By Abdul Hafiz lakhani/Musthafa Thalthodi Bangluru
Karnataka elections are around the corner. Royal battle between Congress and BJP Is on cards. Muslim voters are very important to retain Congress government
According to Syed Tanveer Ahmed, editor-in-chief of Karnatakamuslims.com, a news website that aims to ensure Muslim involvement in governance, among other things, Muslim voters can be decisive in at least 19 constituencies. “Muslims form more than 30% of the electorate in these constituencies,” he said. Ahmed said the figures were based on an analysis of National Sample Survey data and a survey conducted by his organisation.
Muslims constitute close to 13% of Karnataka’s population, according to the 2011 Census. In the 2013 elections, 11 Muslims were elected to the Assembly – 4.9% of the 224 seats in the House.
Muzaffar Assadi, professor of political science at Mysore University, said the backwardness of the community is a major reason for the non-emergence of Muslim leaders. “The socio-economic conditions of Muslims have not improved despite affirmative action by governments,” he said. “The community literally remains in ghettos.” Besides, political parties have for long treated Muslims as a community whose votes they can take for granted, he added.
A Congress leader in North Karnataka, who is Muslim, attributed the community’s under-representation to the party not giving enough tickets to Muslim candidates. In 2013, the Congress gave 18 tickets to Muslims and nine of them won. “We gave 50% results,” he said. “If you give us 30 tickets, we will win 15. The problem is you are not giving us tickets.” He said the situation was the same in the Janata Dal (Secular). Political parties fear Muslim candidates will not be able to get the votes of other communities, he said. Part of the problem lies with the candidates, he claimed. “Only Muslim votes are not enough to win,” he said. “You should be a person who can take other communities along.”
But Assadi has a different view. He said political parties often believe that Muslims do not attract votes. “The electorate views Muslim candidates with suspicion and it lessens their winning chances,” he said. “The stereotype is working against potential candidates.”
This time, the Congress has fielded 17 Muslim candidates while the Janata Dal (Secular) has given tickets to eight Muslims. Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has offered its support to the Janata Dal (Secular). The Social Democratic Party of India, the political arm of the hardline Islamist organisation the Popular Front of India, is contesting three seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party has not fielded any Muslim candidates
In the history, some events will be remarkable and the result will be predestined. Karnataka assembly election-2018 is falling into this category.
The election is on May 12th. BJP is far ahead in ruling Indian states with 85% of country’s geography and population. Prior to 2019 general election, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan states will also go to fray. If Congress fails in all these elections, then only Punjab and Pondicherry will remain with Congress, and 23 out of 29 states will be ruled by BJP.
What is wrong if BJP bags all these states? The scenario is very dangerous. India’s strength lies in its *Constituency that ensures secularism, diversity and pluralism*. Sangh Parivar is determined to replace Indian Constituency with Manusmriti and tri-color flag with saffron. This can be possible if both Lokh Sabha and Rajya Sabha maintain two-thirds majority to BJP and the BJP can approach Supreme Court to alter Constituency [and any rule for that matter]. At present BJP is the biggest party in both Sabhas, and by 2022 the Rajya Sabha will become ‘BJP Sabha’ by the MPs elected from states assemblies with the overwhelming number of MLAs. After the amendments of Constituency, India will not remain the same. In short, India making inroads into a fascist regime. That is the difference. Therefore, Karnataka election has paramount importance and it will have immense repercussions in national politics.
Democracy is the rule of the majority. But it is not always right. In most of the elections, BJP played crucial strategy to divide votes of opposition and win the elections. Gujarat and UP are clear examples of “time-tested model of electoral practice” of ensuring a split in Muslim votes to influence the outcome. Muslim voters are 13% in Karnataka and can certainly tilt the electoral balance if Muslim and backward classes to support Congress. There are 38 seats Muslim votes will determine the winners and another 62 seats where Muslim votes are decisive. Amit Sha and his team picked those 100 seats and put from five to ten independent Muslim candidates to split the Muslim votes; and also MEP [Mahila Empowerment Party] contesting in all 224 seats only to ensure BJP’s victory. The point here is, if more than 10% Muslim votes split among many candidates, the BJP will win the seat. For example, Shivaji nagar in Bangalore has a Muslim population of nearly 35%. Sitting MLA Roshan Baig is the Congress candidate. Apart from Roshan, other six Muslim candidates are in the fray including AAP, JDS, ASP, Ambedkar party, and MEP. If Muslim votes split among the seven candidates, the BJP candidate Katta Subramanya Naidu will be the winner. So, Muslim voters have to recognize the voting strategy.
BJP fanatic rule is at its peak in UP, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Haryana, Jammu Kashmir, etc. After Subramanian Swamy’s tweet, _‘Somebody needs to teach AMU a lesson. Who will do it?’_ Aligarh Muslim University was attacked by Sangh goons on Thursday and the university closed for five days. This is a signal what BJP planning for general election 2019. There will be communal riots, attacks on Muslim symbols; goons are waging an armed insurgency to topple Muslim heritages. India will face emergency if BJP coming to power in Karnataka. Slowly India heading to a nation where ‘fear’ is the ruling factor.
The message has to reach abruptly to all voters of Karnataka and let them vote to Congress in this election. If the Congress didn’t get 113 seats, BJP will play any game to come to power with the support of other parties. This is what we have seen in Goa and Manipur. There is no other choice and therefore, please request everyone to participate. The voter’s turnout in the state is 70% average, whereas in Muslim areas it is much lesser. This will also affect the results.
Muslim, Dalit, Lingayat and whoever it is respecting India should have to act to protect the idea of India..
