By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: Nawab Kokab Hamid of Baghpat is likely to join Samajwadi Party (SP). Not only this, he is a strong contender for MLC berth and is likely to be named candidate for the upcoming election of the lone MLC seat which has fallen vacant due to resignation of former CM and BSP supremo Mayawati following her election to Rajya Sabha after the drubbing in recently concluded assembly elections.
Kokab Hamid represented Baghpat constituency in UP Assembly. The area is fiefdom of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) supremo Ajit Singh who is presently representing it in Lok Sabha. Kokab too won the assembly seat five times and has been minister in the state government.
This time, however, he lost the election. Since then he was licking his wounds. Political experts opine that Jats who are believed to be traditional voter of Rashtriya Lok Dal deserted Kokab Hamid. Since then Kokab confined himself and was not seen much. Later the election for MLC seats arrived. RLD could send one candidate despite having nine MLAs because they had earlier supported Congress in Rajya Sabha elections. Now Congress was supporting them. RLD Chief Ajit Singh preferred Choudhary Mushtaq Ahmed of Saharanpur. Kokab felt neglected.
Known for his connections cutting across party line Kokab revived his contacts with SP supremo Mulayam Singh. Now political speculations are that he will be given MLC seat. One MLC seat is vacant and by the virtue of Imam Bukhari’s issue this seat will be given to a Muslim only. Thus Kokab has already won half the battle without even joining SP.
The remaining recommendation can be easily done by one time Ajit Singh’s loyalist Anuradha Choudhary who is now in Mulayam camp.
In Kokab, SP can get a leader who has sizeable clout among Muslims of Western region. After the exit of Rasheed Masood, SP is lacking any senior Muslim leader. Rasheed Masood may have failed to ensure victory for Congress but he was instrumental in stopping SP’s victory rath in Saharanpur. In this district SP could win only one seat while Congress which lost its deposit on all seven seats in 2007 elections polled more than 4.50 lakh votes while it is another matter that it could not win the desired number of seats.
Kokab can wean away the remaining Muslim support to RLD and further relegating the party and Ajit Singh. It will serve Mulayam Singh very well as Ajit Singh swings fortune to other party as per requirement.
Meanwhile SP leaders in Lucknow too are upbeat over Kokab’s possible joining. Things will be clear within a week when the notification for the MLC seat is issued and the clamouring for the seat starts within the party.