By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Though the number of Muslim MLAs has come down a little this time in Tamil Nadu the fact the community can get solace from is that five of six Muslim winners are from the new ruling alliance led by AIADMK. Three are from AIADMK itself and two from the alliance partner MMK that is led by Prof. MH Jawahirullah.
Tamilnadu Assembly
However, six Muslims among 234 members of the state assembly comes to just 2.6% which is even less than half of the percentage of total Muslim population in the state — that is around 6%.
Interestingly, 3 is one of the highest numbers of Muslim MLAs that AIADMK ever have had. In the last assembly, the party led by former cine star J Jayalalitha had one Muslim MLA – senior party leader Mrs Bader Sayeed from Triplicane. In all, the last assembly had 7 Muslim MLAs, out of which DMK had the highest number, 5; the same number the AIADMK alliance has this time.
The sad part of the story is that Muslim women are not being represented in the assembly this time. In the last assembly Muslim women were represented by Mrs Badar Sayeed, the lone Muslim MLA from AIADMK.
From the election results it can also be concluded that the Muslim electorate of the state was unhappy with their assembly representatives. That is the reason why out of 5 sitting MLAs who fought elections only one was voted back. Interestingly all the four who were rejected by their electorate belong to the DMK alliance. It shows that not even the general masses but the Muslim electorate also were angry with the incumbent alliance in the state.
Another interesting aspect is that out of the 7 constituencies that were represented by Muslims in the last assembly, only two have again sent Muslims.
Muslim MLAs in the new assembly
|
Sl. No. |
Name |
Constituency |
Party |
|
1 |
Prof. MH Jawahirulla |
Ramanathapuram |
MMK |
|
2 |
Aslam Basha |
Ambur |
MMK |
|
3 |
Abdul Raheem |
Avadi |
AIADMK |
|
4 |
A. Mohammed John |
Ranipet |
AIADMK |
|
5 |
Mariam Pitchai |
Tiruchirappalli (West) |
AIADMK |
|
6 |
M. Mohideen Khan |
Palayamkottai |
DMK |
Muslim MLAs in the last assembly
|
Sl. No. |
Name |
Constituency |
Party |
|
1 |
Bader Sayeed |
Triplicane |
AIADM |
|
2 |
Abdul Basith.H |
Vaniayambad |
DMK |
|
3 |
Hasan Ali. K |
Ramanathapuram |
INC |
|
4 |
Khaleelur Rahman. M. A. |
Aravakurichi |
DMK |
|
5 |
Mohideen Khan. T. P. M. |
Palayamkottai |
DMK |
|
6 |
Syed Ghouse Basha, S. |
Madurai Central |
DMK |
|
7 |
Ubayadullah. S. N. M |
Thanjavur |
DMK |
The fact that out of 16 Muslim candidates fielded by the two alliances led by DMK and AIADMK, 6 have won is not bad. Out of 16, 10 fought from the incumbent alliance (DMK) and 6 from the AIADMK alliance. From DMK side just one won — the sitting MLA and minister, M Mohideen Khan who won from Palayamkottai assembly constituency.
The AIADMK alliance had fielded 6 candidates out of which 5 won. Very impressive success rate. Interestingly, AIADMK is not known for fielding more Muslim candidates. It’s just because of its alliance with MMK, a Muslim party, that it took care to take the community’s support also by fielding more Muslim candidates this time around. Although few AIADMK baiters say that Amma did the alliance with MMK just out of her pathological enmity with the DMK supremo Karunanidhi.
Among those Muslim candidates who lost, some showed their electoral potential. Ten Muslim candidates came second. Out of these 10, 7 belong to DMK and one from Congress. Two Muslim candidates ranked third position and five ranked fourth in their respective constituencies.
Muslim candidates who came second, third or fourth
Sl. No.- Constituency—-Candidate——————Party——Votes——-Position
1. Harbor——————-ALTAF HUSSAIN———DMK——33603——–2nd
2. Harbor——————-MOHAMED HUSSAIN—SDPI——2237———-4th
3. Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni—THAMEEMUN ANSARI—MMK—–54988—-2nd
4. Chepauk———————ABDUL RAHIM—Indian National League—1271—4th
5. Thousands Light———-HASAN MOHAMED JINNAH—DMK—-59930—2nd
6. Thousands Light———–THIWAN MUHAMMEDU NAHIB—IJK—- 849—4th
7. Vaniambadi—————-ABDUL BASITH (Sitting MLA)—DMK—62338—-2nd
8. Vaniambadi—————-MOHAMMED ILIYAS—-Independent—2548—3rd
9. Vaniambadi—————-VAZEER AHMED——————BSP—1149—4th
10. Ulundurpet——Mohamedyousuf.M—Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi–61286—2nd
11. Nagapatthinam—MOHAMED SHEIK DAWOOD—-DMK—56127—2nd
12. Thanjavur—S.N.M.UBAYADULLAH (Sitting MLA)—-DMK—68086—2nd
13. Madurai Central—Syed Ghouse Batcha (Sitting MLA)—-DMK–56503—2nd
14. Ramanathapuram—-K. Hasan Ali (Congress)—Sitting MLA——50074—2nd
15. Ramanathapuram—-RAJA HUSSAIN—Indian National League—3606—4th
16. Tiruvadanai—MUJUPUR RAHMAN S—DMDK—63238—2nd
17. Palayamkottai—–K.S.SAHUL HAMEED—-Independent—7032—3rd