Speaking to reporters after holding a Leaders’ Conclave in Ahmedabad, Faizy asserted that the outfit is positioning itself to emerge as an alternative opposition force against the ruling BJP, stepping into a political vacuum left by other national parties.
The SDPI plans to strengthen its cadre and structure for the upcoming assembly elections, and was preparing to field candidates in the majority of constituencies, he said.
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“Today, especially in Gujarat, the BJP’s main opposition, Congress, has failed, and the AAP also does not have much of a presence. The SDPI is trying to step in and take the place of the Opposition party against the BJP by contesting in Gujarat,” he said.
Faizy clarified that the SDPI should not be viewed as an organisation representing only the Muslim community, emphasising that the outfit intends to address issues affecting all underprivileged sections of society.
“Our party is not a Muslim party. It does not belong to any specific class or religion. It is a party for the people of our country. We are working for everyone, especially the oppressed, the poor and labourers,” he said.The SDPI chief claimed that people were demanding political change not only in Gujarat but across the country, while also taking a swipe at the opposition INDIA bloc.
“The INDIA alliance is practically ending because TMC’s Mamata Banerjee has moved away, so has DMK leader M K Stalin, and everyone is blaming the Congress, which doesn’t want to take the alliance seriously,” he claimed.
Faizy said the SDPI will focus on marginalised communities, including minorities, Dalits and OBCs, and claimed the party had received encouraging support from its cadre network in Gujarat.
Asked if the SDPI could face allegations of dividing Opposition votes, which were also levelled against the AIMIM, Faizy said such arguments reflected the Congress’s narrative.
“We are not getting into whether votes will be divided or not. We are working at the grassroots and cadre level with a national vision and agenda,” he said.
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Faizy also indicated that the SDPI was open to entering into pre-poll alliances with parties opposed to the BJP in Gujarat.
“We are ready for an alliance with any party except the BJP. When the time comes, if any party wishes to ally with us, we will consider it,” he said.
Speaking about the party’s organisational plans in Gujarat, Faizy said the SDPI currently had an active structure in Ahmedabad and a few other districts.
“We do not want to spread ourselves across too many districts. We want to heavily concentrate our fieldwork in the specific areas where we intend to contest elections in the future,” he said.
Accusing the BJP of attempting to divide people on religious lines, the SDPI leader said his party aims to unite people from all communities.
