By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Narela constituency in Bhopal exemplifies Muslim political situation in Madhya Pradesh in many ways: a Muslim dominated seat which doesn’t have a strong community leadership, a vast Muslim vote ‘block’ which feels helpless to vote for the Congress, a growing section of Muslims who are opting for BJP to get close to power circles, and the mounting disillusion of Muslim community from politics who sees nothing better for their deprived localities in this number game.
Till 2003 elections there used to be four constituencies in Bhopal. Bhopal North was the sole Muslim dominated seat. After delimitation of 2008 seven constituencies were formed out of whom Bhopal North, Central and Narela were Muslim concentrated.
Though Bhopal North was a traditional ‘Muslim seat’, Bhopal Central was soon recognized as one. But Narela still lags in getting the tag of undeclared Muslim reservation.
When Narela was crafted out, its 40% Muslim vote was seen as deciding factor. But in constituency’s debut election, seat was surprisingly bagged by the BJP candidate Vishwas Sarang defeating his Congress rival Sunil Sood with just 3,200 votes.
Locals believed that in a polarized fight Muslims en block voted for Congress and Hindus for the BJP. But small partys like SP and BSP played spoiler whose Muslim candidates bagged 4,520 votes, thus giving an edge to Sarang over Sood.
Narela majorly consists of most deprived Muslim localities of Bhopal. Situation is so grim that residents doesn’t have drinking water supply, open dug up private sewerage lane front of every house takes care of other basic needs.
A group of Muslims campaigning at BJP office at Umrao Dula Bagh believes that community’s distance with ruling BJP and its sitting MLA is the reason for their localities being ignored.
Babu Mastan, a local leader in the area who is organizing local Muslims behind BJP, prefers to call himself a social worker. He developed a good following among locals, after he personally from his own money laid down water pipeline in the whole locality, the first running water supply to come up in any Muslim locality of Narela.
“Muslims are made to fear from BJP. So Congress can use us anyway they want,” Babu Mastan said smoking his cigarette sitting near long open drain stretch. “We should also give BJP a chance,” he says, otherwise “we will be left as orphans.”
For some Muslim residents of Narela Congress candidate Sunil Sood is more biased than BJP’s Vishwas Sarang. “When Sunil Sood was Mayor of Bhopal he did a Bhoomi Pooja and laid a foundation stone for a drinking water tank to be constructed near Railway Phathak which could supply drinking water to three Muslim localities, Umrao Dula Bagh, Akbar colony and Bismillah Colony.
But when elections were drawn closer the water tank construction was shifted to other side of Railway Phathak. Now drinking water is supplied to Sunder Nagar, Ashoka Colony and Jain Colony. Babu Mastan asks, “Why do you think this happened?” and then he went on to answer, “Because Congress knew that even if we made Muslims to live like dogs, they will again run back to vote for Panja (Hand, the Congress symbol)”. That let down feeling shared by Babu Mastan was wide spread at many Muslim localities of Narela.
According to locals, Congress candidate Sunil Sood, as former Mayor of Bhopal did nothing for the development of constituency. They even alleged that after he lost 2008 election, he ‘disappeared’ and just six months before elections has resurfaced making many more promises.
Some Muslim supporters at the local office of BJP.
On the other hand BJP MLA Vishwas Sarang is taking Muslims of his constituency into confidence. In his five years term, it is said there is no mosque left in Narela where Sarang didn’t go to wish Muslims on Eid.
Sarang’s Muslim vote magnate this time will be 350 crore drinking water pipeline project he got sanctioned from the state government to supply drinking water to mostly Muslim dominated localities of Narela. His deed of bringing in large chunk of investment for the development of Muslim localities has struck a good chore with the residents.
“It is his way of asking Muslims for votes,” explains Nawaz Peer Quadri auto repair mechanic in Narela.
“Sarang did visit Muslim dominated localities and took his time to hear our problems. But whole development fund since last five years was spent at Hindu dominated colonies from where hbasically get votes. He just got sanctioned drinking water project but work has not started yet,” adds Quadri.
He then adds, “Just before election he is giving clear message to Muslims, vote for him get development pie. If Muslim votes turn out to be low again in his favor that sanctioned amount could be shifted elsewhere, as Sunil Sood did earlier.”
Muslims’ anger against Congress is foddered more with party’s reluctance in fielding community’s candidate for the seat.
Taking a dig at the Congress choice, Habib Akhtar, a local BJP worker, said, “Sunil Sood, a defeated candidate is given ticket all over again on a Muslim dominated seat. As if there was scarcity of local Congress Muslim leaders.”
When asked why BJP was reluctant in fielding Muslim candidate, Habib has an immediate explanation, “There are not many Muslims backing BJP here. How can party allot ticket to a community which is hostile to it?”
Site of one of the streets in Narela.
When we questioned Ibrahim Qureshi, Congress election management chief gave a plain but hesitant reply, “If Congress would have given tickets to Muslims in Bhopal North, Central and Narela, which fall under same belt, than it would have given a wrong signal to other communities.”
That ‘wrong signal’ which Congress campaign chief spoke about was visible in Narela, not in other communities as they feared, but among Muslims. Many local Congress leaders were seeing Narela as apple in their eye, and were disappointed after been denied ticket in 2008. They are now feeling disenchanted for once again being side-lined.
“Congress party is trying to walk on a tight rope in Madhya Pradesh. BJP has been trying to tag Congress has ‘Mohammadien ki party’ (party of Muslims). So Congress is succumbing to propaganda by denying tickets to Muslims even on Muslim concentrated constituency,” said Mohammed Akbar, who had himself demanded ticket from Narela, but was denied by the party and is hence upset.
Naseem Khan, former Wakf board chairman, was also in the fray. He presents his case as ticket from Narela was a matter of his right. He has been associated with Youth Congress and started count down of his years of service to the party. He is a local from Narela and his brother Shameem Khan is the municipal councillor from the same constituency, what made him ‘most deserving candidate,’ he argues. But at last moment he said ticket was denied to him as part of party’s ‘Maslihat’ (prudent measure).
Naseem Khan, a local Congress leader.
But rifts apart now Naseem Khan said all the Congressmen like him will do their best to make Congress candidate Sunil Sood win the seat.
And he is not ready to accept their traditional Muslim vote bank can slip away. He tries to create logic with Muslim getting closer to BJP, “Some section of Muslims are getting incline towards BJP because that party is in power. It is a normal thing in politics. Even Brahmans also cosy up with Mayawati when she comes to power,” he says.
Continuing with his rhetoric over Congress party favours on Muslims, Naseem Khan said that Muslims will continue to vote for Congress in en block. He said party has its own strategy to keep Muslim votes intact.
“We will raise Narendra Modi issue in Narela. We will make Muslims aware that if they are opting for some other party rather than Congress; they are helping Modi to grab power.” Then comes the ultimate gimmick, “And if he (Modi) seizes power then Muslims will be finished.”