By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Assembly elections are being held in Uttar Pradesh but its tremors can be felt in Mumbai. With large number of people from eastern region living in Mumbai, the politicians are approaching them for their support.
The eastern region of the state commonly known as poorvanchal region of the state has good number of residents who are presently living in Mumbai to earn their living. There are areas as Bilariyaganj, Faizullaganj, Saraimeer, Gopalpur, Phoolpur, Deedarganj, Nizamabad, Sagdi in Azamgarh where at least one person from every household is based in Mumbai.
Due to this the region is often referred as surviving on moneyorder economy. It is another matter that moneyorders are no more in use with the commencement of fast cash transfer facilities.
However, being the earning member they have quite a say in their household. Candidates are thus going the extra way to reach these expatriate voters. New year wishes through SMSes have already landed in the inbox of most of these voters in Mumbai. Some more enterprising candidates have got printed calenders and diaries which are being dispatched to Mumbai for distribution among their target voters.
“The candidates are contacting us directly. Most of us have even assured to take care of journey fares so that we can be present and cast our vote,” said Mumtaz Azmi, a native of Azamgarh currently running a bakery unit in Mumbai.
Political leaders who are from Azmagarh and currently based in Mumbai are also being utilised by their political parties. One such leader Abu Asim Azmi who is the president of Maharashtra unit of Samajwadi Party (SP) and is also an MLA has been entrusted to campaign among his fellow voters. Already his meeting has been organised in Azamgarh so that he garner support for his party. “We have large number of people who are in Mumbai but are registered as voters in Azamgarh. There is no harm if we approach them for support,” said Abu Asim Azmi. Many other leaders as former MLA Nawab Malik from Sidharthnagar, Maharashtra government minister Arif Naseem and three time MLA Baba Siddiqui too are going around among the poorvanchal voters for their party.
“People usually make their plans in such a way that they are at their home during elections. This way they exercise their franchise and can also visit their home. Politicians approach us but it is the same in every election,” said Moazzam Khan who shuttles between Mumbai and Azamgarh for his business.