In Muzaffarnagar, ‘Muslim-shy’ SP-RLD ‘unnerves’ community

Muzaffarnagar: Muzaffarnagar has six assembly segments and the SP-RLD alliance has not fielded a single Muslim candidate this time. On the ground, this has "unnerved" local minority leaders considerably and may hurt the alliance candidates' prospects in some seats, say analysts. The pattern rivals that of the BJP, which has also fielded only Hindu candidates in the region.Congress, on the other hand, has fielded two Muslims and BSP three.
Leaders of the SP-RLD combine fear that fielding candidates from the minority community could lead to a division of votes, directly benefiting BJP. But, it could also be counterproductive and lead to a drift of Muslim voters. As per official estimates, Muzaffarnagar has a population of about 25 lakh with roughly 42% Muslims. BJP emerged victorious in all seats back in 2017 after fielding only Hindu candidates. BSP had fielded three Muslims then and SP one. In this election, both Congress and BSP have fielded Muslim candidates from Charthawal and Meerapur seats. In Budhana, too, BSP has given a ticket to a minority candidate. Other parties like Chandrashekhar's Azad Samaj Party and Hyderabad-based AIMIM have fielded Muslim candidates as well.
Mursaleen Rana, ex-BSP MLA, who had joined RLD recently and wanted to contest from Charthawal, said, "The RLD wanted to give tickets to Muslims in Muzaffarnagar, but SP was not keen. The alliance by not giving ticket to any Muslim candidate may suffer defeat in at least three segments in Muzaffarnagar. BSP candidates may get more Muslim votes." SP member Haji Liyakat, who had fought the 2017 polls from Meerapur and lost by only 193 votes, said, "There is some heartburn here. Muslims should have been given tickets. But, at the end of the day, we accept the party high command's decision."
Local politician and former councillor Faisal Saifi said, "The decision not to give a ticket to any Muslim has forced the community to think hard about their own Muslim leadership. Minority candidates fielded by BSP, Congress and AIMIM will be the first choice. This may make things easier for the BJP." Echoing similar sentiments, Naushad Ahmed, a local shopkeeper, said, "In 2017, SP had given one and RLD two tickets to Muslim candidates, but this time both Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary were probably a bit Muslim-shy and preferred other options."