Unlike the last elections, it will not be a easy fight for BJP’s lone Muslim MP Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, seeking to make a hat-trick from Bhagalpur, as his chances hang on the way his community as well as the Kurmis – the caste Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar belongs to – decide to vote.
Though most of the Muslims are not inclined towards Hussain, yet he and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are eyeing the division of their votes in Bhagalpur, known as silk city, between Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, which seeking to make inroads into the Kurmi votes.
It is a triangular contest between Huusain, RJD’s Shailesh Kumar alias Bulo Mandal and JD-U Abu Qaiser.
Kamal Ahmad and Rahmat Ansari, residents of Nathnagar area here, had voted for Hussain in 2009 due to Nitish Kumar but say will not follow suit now. “We supported Shahnawaz Hussain last time when Nitish Kumar’s JD-U was in alliance with BJP. But now, there is no question to supporting him,” said Ahmad
Ansari said with Modi the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Muslims have strong reservations against Hussain. “Voting for Shahnawaz Hussain means supporting Modi, whom by and large Muslim continue to hold responsible for the 2002 Gujarat riots,” he said.
However, Kamran Khan says Muslims likely to vote for a candidate who can defeat the BJP but they are divided between support to RJD and JD-U so far. “Division of Muslims and other anti-BJP votes will help Shahnawaz again,” he said.
Abu Qaiser’s presence in fray has come as a blessing in disguise for Hussain, said Dr Sambey, who stays in the heart of Bhagalpur town, near the railway station. “BJP and Shahnawaz are hoping for division of Muslim voters because battle is tough this time. Once BJP supporters, Mandal’s castemen, locally known as Gangota – an extremely backward caste – who have strong presence here, are openly backing Mandal,” he claimed.
–IANS