By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net,
Lucknow: Numbers do matter. Perhaps relying on this the war over Muslim votes is heating up even beating the winter chill in UP elections. With no exact figures available, mostly on the basis of previous census Muslims matter in at least 130 assembly constituencies.
Logic is simple: Corner their votes to reap political benefit. Let’s have a look at the stand of various political parties and how they are faring till now (January 18, 2011).
Samajwadi Party
Presently, the main opposition party led by socialist Mulayam Singh Yadav in the state is vouching for returning to power. Since its formation on 4 October 1992, the party considers Muslims as its core base. From its inception, it harvested Muslim votes, thanks to Babri masjid issue. The party lost them considerably in 2009 over Mulayam’s bonhomie with estranged Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalyan Singh. To regain the lost ground, what is Samajwadi Party doing? Have a glance.
Major Highlights
1. Reinducted fire brand leader Azam Khan in the party.
2. Azam Khan is the star campaigner accompanying Mulayam.
3. Raking up Babri Masjid issue starting from 22/23 December 1949 when idols were kept inside the Masjid.
4. Highlighting self-proclaimed 15 percent recruitment of Muslims in police during its regime.
5. Countering Minority Reservation issue of Congress terming it not enough.
6. Promising Muslim reservation in proportion to their population (nearly 18 percent).
7. Loan waiver up to Rs 5000 to weavers.
8. Free power to weavers.
9. Breaking up Peace Party for stake in Muslim votes.
A scene of Muslim Maha Panchayat held in Moradabad on 16th October 2011
Bahujan Samaj Party
The party in power led by Chief Minister (CM) Mayawati is a slow and steady starter in campaign. Party believes in simple logic: Get Muslim votes and Dalits, Form government. It gave 84 tickets to Muslims but social engineering formula mentions only Brahmins. Relying heavily on its cadre since its inception in 1984, Mayawati is yet to hit the road for campaigning. Not much emphasis is laid directly on Muslims but it is left to the individual Muslim candidates to garner their community votes.
Major Highlights
1. Arbi Urdu Farsi University (non functional)
2. MSDP programmes – None of the building functional.
3. No-riot claim.
4. Do not support 4.5 percent reservation from OBC quota to Muslims.
5. Wrote letters to PM for Muslims backwardness.
Indian National Congress
The grand old party is trying to get its root after lying in wilderness for nearly 23 years. The party hanged out several carrots to Muslims with an eye on assembly polls. Surprisingly, none of them are working in its favour. The community is still finding it difficult to digest Congress-(even poll pundits don’t understand why the community which solidly backed it in 2009 Lok Sabha elections is totally aloof in 2012 assembly elections).
Major Highlights
1. 4.5 percent Minority quota (read Muslim)
2. Batla House encounter fake–later disowned.
3. 6000 crore package to weavers. Claim to benefit three lakh weavers.
4. Rs 1015.70 crores given under MSDP.
5. Merit Cum Means scholarships to minority students.
6. Circular to banks for making loans to Muslims.
Congress scion Rahul Gandhi is making announcements about the Muslim welfare schemes. Hardly anyone of them is visible on ground. The strategy is simple: Blame BSP for them and get votes. However, in reality it would have been easily done with checks and balances during their implementation. Muslims don’t expect any miracle from them and thus are not getting associated with the party.