BY MOHAMMAD TARIQUE SALEEM FROM KALIYAR
For nearly three decades, Mausam Ali has remained one of the steadfast faces of the Samajwadi Party in Uttarakhand. Joining the party in 1998, he has never looked back despite receiving several offers from rival political parties. Today, he serves as the State Secretary of the Samajwadi Baba Saheb Ambedkar Vahini’s National Executive in Uttarakhand, continuing his long-standing commitment to strengthening the party at the grassroots level.
Reflecting on his political journey, Ali recalls that he began his career as the State Secretary of the Yuvjan Sabha in Haridwar, where he worked under the guidance of senior Samajwadi leader Santosh Kashyap. “Those early years shaped my political understanding and commitment to the party’s ideology,” he says.
Ali points out that his association with the Samajwadi Party predates the formation of Uttarakhand. Nearly two years before the state was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000, he was actively working to expand the party’s presence in the region. After Uttarakhand was formed, he continued serving the party in the Haridwar Lok Sabha constituency, dedicating himself completely as a karyakarta and a loyal sipahi (soldier) of the Samajwadi Party.
“Our hard work helped the party gain significant public support in the region,” he says. “Even though the Congress was also a major contender, the Samajwadi Party consistently fielded candidates in every Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha election. Unfortunately, the attention from the national leadership has not always matched the dedication of local workers.”
According to Ali, one of the challenges the party has faced in Uttarakhand is the impact of national controversies. “Many people here associate incidents like Rampur with the Samajwadi Party, which has affected the party’s image, even though local workers continue to work tirelessly for public welfare,” he explains.
Despite these hurdles, Ali emphasizes that the Samajwadi Party has always stood by the people of Uttarakhand. “At the national level, our party was among the first to raise and fight for issues concerning Uttarakhand. Whether it is financial assistance or organizational support, the party has always worked on every front.”
His loyalty to the Samajwadi Party has been repeatedly tested. Ali reveals that he has received several offers to leave the party and join the Congress, including from his close associate and Piran Kaliyar-based MLA Furkan. BJP leaders have also approached him. Around two-and-a-half years ago, he says, a BJP leader even promised him a prominent organizational position in Uttarakhand if he switched parties. “But I have always remained loyal to the Samajwadi Party because I believe in its ideology,” he states.
Looking ahead, Ali believes the party has strong grassroots support in Uttarakhand, but it needs greater attention from its national leadership. “If Akhilesh Yadav visits Uttarakhand more frequently and addresses rallies and public meetings, it will greatly boost the morale of workers and strengthen the party’s presence in the state,” he says. His message is clear: “The Samajwadi Party already has committed workers and supporters across Uttarakhand. With just a little more focus from the national leadership, especially from Akhilesh Yadav, the party can emerge as a much stronger political force in the state.”
