Muslims this time will play a decisive role in Lok Sabha polls in Bihar since they make up 16.5% of the electorate in the state. At one time, they used to back RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who made himself unbeatable by cobbling together the M-Y (Muslim-Yadav) platform that lasted for about 15 years until 2005.
However, after the fiasco in that year’s assembly elections came; defeat in the 2009 Lok Sabha and then the 2010 state elections. Nitish Kumar benefited and became Chief Minister, following which he sought to cement his position among minorities regardless of being in alliance with the BJP, a party Muslims regard with suspicion.
The decision of Nitesh Kumar to break free from the BJP last June may persuade more Muslims to back Kumar, and many have already declared that they will back his JD (U) party.
But they are also aware that voting for RJD may produce a stronger alliance opposite to the NDA. In the light of this, a split in the Muslim vote looked inevitable in constituencies where both JD (U) and RJD-Congress-NCP alliance nominees appear to be on equally strong footing.
Anisur Rahman, secretary of Patna-based Muslim welfare organization Imarat Shariah, doesn’t think the vote will be split. He expects the community to decide on tactical voting — casting the ballot for the candidate in all probability to defeat the BJP and its partners.
“But compared to the 2009 Lok Sabha and 2010 state assembly elections, Nitishji should get more votes of the Muslims in this election. Apart from doing the needful for victims of the 1989 Bhagalpur communal riots, he has built roads and schools, even accorded government affiliation to the 2,400 madrasas. In each primary school he got one Urdu teacher appointed, enforced the Sixth Pay Commission for the teachers of madrasas and so much else,” Rahman said.
Besides, doing the needful for victims of the 1989 Bhagalpur communal riots, he has built roads and schools, even accorded government affiliation to the 2,400 madrasas. He got one Urdu teacher appointed in each primary school, enforced the Sixth Pay Commission for the teachers of madrasas and so much else,” Rahman said.
The Imarat Shariah is present in Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand. Although it doesn’t engage in political activity, the organization is frequented by politicians of all tinges, including Prasad and Kumar. Still, Rahman sought to prevaricate his bets. “Laluji’s seats will also increase,” he said.
Certainly, Muslim organizations affiliated to the BJP are seeking to rally support for its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi based on the points of view that his development plank will lead to social uplift, that there has been no religious bloodshed in Gujarat after the 2002 riots and that opposing him may marginalize the community further.