M-factor back in focus in state politics

PATNA: The elevation of Choudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser to the post of state Congress chief has again brought into sharp focus the M (Muslim) factor in the state politics.Politicalobservers find it meaningful that the Congress has preferred a Muslim leader tolead the state unit in the assembly polls which is just a few months away. Thereis a thought that the party will be going all out to woo the Muslims who havelargely remained with the RJD so far.Qaiser refused to be drawn intoa debate over the issue. “I would like to become a boon for the Congressrather than a disadvantage for any other political party,” hesaid.However, if the Congress intends to revive itself in Bihar, ithas to bring back its traditional vote bank together which consisted of dalits,upper castes and Muslims. While the last bypolls to the 18 seats of the stateassembly indicated that at least a section of the upper caste had moved towardsthe party, the Muslims still largely prefer the RJD.The RJD isputting up a brave face, though. “The Muslims are very conscious votersand known for tactical voting. In the last Lok Sabha polls, a section of Muslimsvoted for Congress to ensure the defeat of the BJP. But this led to a massivevictory of the NDA. I am sure that the Muslims will solidly back us in theassembly polls because they know that the Congress does not have a social basehere. Nobody is going to waste his vote just because they want Congress toregain strength here,” remarked senior RJD leader and the party’sRajya Sabha candidate Ram Kripal Yadav.However, the recent votingpattern should cause concern to the RJD-LJP alliance. During the last Lok Sabhapolls, Muslims preferred the Congress wherever it had thrown into the ringprominent Muslim leaders. From the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj constituency,Congress candidate Maulana Asrarul Haque not only won but also pushed RJDcandidate Mohd Taslimuddin to the third position. In Madhubani, RJD candidateand senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui lost because most Muslim voters opted forCongress candidate Dr Shakeel Ahmad. Choudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser himselfcontested from Khagaria parliamentary seat and finished second pushing the RJDcandidate to third position.Electioneering during the last Lok Sabhapolls saw a bitter war of words between RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congressleaders over the demolition of Babri Masjid. With assembly polls drawing closer,the RJD chief has been attacking the Congress for its failure to implement therecommendations of the Ranganath Commission and Sachar Committee. With Qaiserheading the Congress in Bihar, Lalu may have to sharpen his attack on the partyagain.