By NNN-PTI,
Lucknow, India : In an apparent bid to cash in on the Muslim vote bank, a number of outfits representing the community in Uttar Pradesh state have decided to field candidates for the Lok Sabha (Lower House) polls.
Projecting them as thee “real” well wishers of the minorities, these organisations have already announced their candidates.
Out of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies, the population of Muslim voters is about 20 per cent in 17 of them, mostly in western Uttar Pradesh districts including Muzaffarnagar, Amroha and Moradabad.
In eastern Uttar Pradesh, the community plays a decisive role in constituencies of Azamgarh, Bahraich, Gonda, Srawasti, Varanasi and Duamariaganj.
Considering the fact, the Ulema Council, which came into existence after 29/11 Mumbai attacks, has announced to contest from more than a dozen Lok Sabha seats in the state including Congress strongholds Rae Bareli and Amethi.
The Council, which has its roots in Azamgarh and had first raised the issue of atrocities on “innocent Muslim youths” of the district by the police, is all set to make this its poll plank.
“Muslims will vote for our candidates. The community has realised that political parties are using them as a vote bank only,” Amir Rashadi Madani, coordinator of Ulema Council, had said recently.