LUCKNOW, 18 April 2007 — Muslims are unlikely to throw their weight behind any single political party in the Muslim-dominated districts of Moradabad, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Amroha, Bijnore and Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, which go to the polls in the third phase of the assembly elections today.
Several of the 40-odd assembly constituencies in these districts are either Muslim-dominated or hold the key to the success of candidates of the ruling Samajwadi Party and the opposition Congress party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
“Muslim votes will not go in favor of any single party this time. We are asking the community to vote tactically to ensure the defeat of communal forces,” said Maulana Salman of the prestigious Shahi Madarsa of Moradabad district.
Popular Shiite cleric Raza Abbas Zaidi, who is also known as Raja Mian of Sambhal, which has a sizeable Shiite population, said Muslims should support those who do not indulge in communal politics.
“We shall vote for those who are ahead in the race,” said Abdul Latif, a cloth merchant in the village of Tiriapur in Bareilly Cantonment constituency. Asad Rauf, a vegetable seller at the Fatehganj Market in Bareilly, said, “Communal forces must be defeated. We shall go for parties who can do it, whether it is SP, Congress or BSP.”
Muslims also feel “fatwas” issued by religious leaders will have “no significant bearing” on the community. “Muslim votes are not the domain of anyone,” Latif added.
“There is no use wasting votes on losing candidates,” said Naseem Ahmed, a fruit-seller in Maigalganj near Shahjahanpur.
Significantly, religious leaders have not issued appeals in favor of any single party. Muslims dominate a large number of constituencies in this belt.
Undeterred by the possibility of tactical voting by Muslims, the Congress, Samajwadi Party and BSP are trying their best to woo the community and claim it will side with them. While the Samajwadi Party claims its government had taken a number of steps for the welfare of Muslims, the Congress is brandishing its secular character and lists its achievements on this count.
