Muslim outfits to test electoral fortunes in UP polls

Lucknow, Mar 16 (PTI) In an apparent bid to cash in on
the Muslim vote bank, a number of outfits representing the
community in Uttar Pradesh have decided to field candidates
for the Lok Sabha polls.

Projecting them as the the "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.

Following its footsteps, another organisation Peace Party
too has announced to contest Lok Sabha elections on 30 seats.

While the party plans to field Muslim candidates on 10
seats, it is still looking for non-Muslim candidates on
remaining 20 seats.

"We have to take all castes toghether to make a mark in
elections. Besides Muslims, we will also be fielding
candidates of other castes too," Peace Party leader Arshad
said.

The Party too had organised a rally in the state capital
to show its strength.

While the Council and Peace Party have decided to contest
on their own, three others parties have forged an alliance
-Milli Mahaj with a similar objective.

The alliance which was announced on February 23 comprises
Muslim Majlis, Parcham Party and National Loktantrik Party.

Mahaj, which has announced its candidate for Lucknow
seat, while claiming that a few more like-minded organisations
would join the alliance, said that it would declare its
candidates on other seats soon.

Other than Muslims, the alliance is concentrating on
mobilising most backwards and Dalits in its favour, its
leaders claim.

Another organisation All India Muslim Forum has also
joined the bandwagon by announcing a candidate for Chandauli
parliamentary constituency.

An old organisation of Muslims, Jamiat ul Ulema is on the
verge of a split ahead of polls. While one section of the
organisation is being commanded by Maulana Mehmood Madani, who
is also a sitting MP of Rashtriya Lok Dal, another section is
being headed by his uncle Maulana Arshad Madani.

Taking a lead, Arshad Madani organised an anti-terrorsim
convention in the state capital, where he shared the dais with
UP Congress president Reeta Bahuguna Joshi. However, it has
not declared a ny candidates so far and looking for options.

Unlike previous elections, when Muslim organisations had
been concentrating mainly on the community votes,
organisations, which are in fray this time are "disseminating"
a message of unity and secularism among the community people.

For example Ulema Council has named a Hindu candidate
Amrish Mishra from Lucknow parliamentary constituency.

Mishra, who is making a debut in the electoral politics,
is a follower of a Ayodhya-based mahant.

Similarly, the Council has fielded two Dalits Sohan Ram
and Chandra Ram Saroj from Machlishahar and Lalganj
respectively.

Asked about the prospects of the Muslim outfit, All India
Muslim Morcha President M A Siddiqi said "formation of outfits
claiming themselves to be real well wishers of Muslims ahead
of polls has become a routine practice in the state".

"In the last assembly polls, United Democratic Front and
Peoples Democratic Front were formed but they failed to make
any impact in state politics," he added. PTI AP
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