Jobs most important for Muslim community

LUCKNOW: Muslims hold the key in 55 assembly constituencies which voted on Wednesday and the turnout in almost all seats the community dominates was huge despite rain.
In Sitapur, Muslims referred to party symbols and not to candidates. Junaid of Leherpur had this to say: “The real contest here is between the hand and the cycle. The elephant has benefited some people through the housing scheme.The Muslim vote will get divided because many constituencies have more than three Muslim candidates.”
Clearly, there’s more that’s working in SP’s favour. Mohammed Kamil, a potato trader, said: “The SP MLA here did not build roads or improve the power situation in Sitapur city.
He ensured that the broken walls of our Eidgah and burial grounds were repaired. And he is a Hindu. That gesture matters.” In the 2007 assembly elections, BSP won 30, SP 18, BJP 4 and Congress 3 of the total 55 assembly seats which voted on Wednesday.
In the 2009 LS polls, Congress and BSP won six seats each of the 13 in 10 districts. SP got only one. An assembly segment-wise analysis of the 2009 LS polls shows that Congress was ahead at 29, BSP in 15, SP in 9 and BJP in one. Clearly, the balance swung in Congress’s favour in 2009 from the BSP in 2007. The reason was the shift of Muslims from BSP to Congress.
In Barabanki, where Musims form 22% of the population, the phenomenon was visible at all polling stations. Irrespective of the bad weather, locals at Peer Batavan, a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood, saw over 65% voting by 4pm.
Mohd Zeeshan who came to vote with his brothers said development and jobs were essentials. “Every household needs food and money to survive and fulfill their dreams. Caste and religion don’t matter if one has to go hungry.”.
In Barabanki, where Musims form 22% of the total population, the phenomenon was extremely visible at all the polling stations. Irrespective of the bad weather and incoveniences of wating for hours in the serpentine queue, locals in Peer Batavan, a Muslim dominated locality saw over 65% voting by 4.00 pm.
Mohd Zeeshan who had come with his brothers Mohammad Nihal and Ghulam Mustafa said that development of their village and jobs were essentials every youth needs. “Every household needs food and money to survive and fulfill their dreams. Caste of religion do not matter if one has to go hungry,” said Zeeshan.
The elderly too were of the same opinion. “We are not goats whom anyone can drive in one direction. It’s time political parties should realise that we are people and not vote banks,” said Munis Ansari, a weaver in Ramnagar area.
Muslim women also actively participated in the poll process. Usually seen in large groups, these women also preferred development over anything else. “If a man in the house is jobless how can his family stay happy,” said Zariunisa Begum of Dariyabad.
Elections 2012 News
Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2012