Lucknow. Ahead of the UP Assembly elections, Rashtriya Lok Dal National President Chaudhary Jayant Singh suffered a major setback on Friday. Dr. Ramashish Rai abruptly resigned as state president and from the party’s primary membership.
In a letter addressed to National President Chaudhary Jayant Singh, Dr. Ramashish Rai wrote, “I am deeply grateful to you for entrusting me with the responsibility of State President of the party. While discharging this responsibility, I endeavored to strengthen the organization to the best of my ability and capacity. I extensively toured various districts of the state. I established communication with the workers. I worked continuously for the expansion and empowerment of the organization.”
Dr. Ramashish Rai wrote that I entered politics inspired by Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan’s Total Revolution movement of 1974-75. At that time, issues such as corruption, inflation, unemployment, the erosion of democratic institutions, and the accountability of government and administration were matters of national concern. The dream of systemic change that Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan presented to the country with his call for “Total Revolution” still appears unfulfilled.
He said that Indian democracy is gradually shrinking under the control of the wealthy and influential classes. The tendency to divide society along caste, sub-caste, and sect lines is increasing. Farmers struggle to secure fair prices for their produce, while youth grapple with unemployment and uncertainty about the future. Growing disappointment in the areas of education, employment, and social justice is giving rise to discontent in the psyche. The great men of the country preached the message of “breaking caste, uniting society” to strengthen social harmony, national unity, and brotherhood. Unfortunately, today, there are people in high positions in public life who are promoting social divisions and caste frenzy. This trend threatens democracy, social harmony, and national interest.
He wrote that Bharat Ratna and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had also described the growing influence of money power in politics and elections as a serious threat to democracy. Today, his fears appear to be largely borne out. In place of ideological commitment, the influence of economic power and nepotism is growing in politics, steadily undermining democratic values. This situation is worrisome for the country’s democratic future.
Dr. Ramashish Rai said that democracy is in danger today due to the attacks on the Constitution, democracy, and constitutional institutions. The party is bigger than the individual, and the country is bigger than the party. For these ideological and moral reasons, I am submitting my resignation as President of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, Uttar Pradesh, and as the primary member of the party.