By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Siwan went to poll in Phase 3 on October 28. While the Congress had fielded candidates on all eight seats in the district, including lone Muslim candidate S S Fazle Haque in Barharia constituency, none of the party’s star campaigners touched Siwan.
“As the party neglected Siwan and did not send any star campaigner and there was no serious effort on the part of the party leadership to win any seat here, how can we expect good result,” said Haque in sad tone. “I had requested that if Rahul or Sonia ji can’t come, at least they should send Mohd Azharuddin, former cricketer and now Lok Sabha MP from Moradabad in UP, but none heeded,” he adds.
Haque is aggrieved also because the district party office and local leaders did not work for party’s official candidates.
“Rather than campaigning for me, the local party leaders including district Congress vice president campaigned against me,” says Haque who has been Mukhiya of his area since 1978.
He also admitted that Mohd Shahabuddin’s fear still ruled the roost. “Threats came to villagers from jail to vote in favor of RJD candidate though I had good standing and chances to win,” says the man, a lawyer by training. He has LLB degree from Magadh University.
Barharia has 26.45% Muslim voters and had 19 candidates including Mohd Mobin of RJD. Though results will be out on November 24, Haque says his chances are dim and JD-U candidate may have the last laugh riding over the division of Muslim votes. Among 19 there were 5 Muslim candidates in Barharia.
Another Muslim candidate from any major alliance/party in Siwan was Hamid Raza Khan of RJD in Raghunathpur constituency.