The entry of Muslim-centric parties into the poll arena in Karnataka has raised curiosity about if and how they could divide the community’s votes.
With parties such as the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), besides the All-India Mahila Empowerment Party, launching their election campaigns, calculations have begun on the extent to which their candidates could play the role of spoilers for secular parties.
Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz, an apex body of 28 non-political Muslim organisations, including influential groups such as Tableeghi Jamaat, Ahle Hadith, Shia organisations, and Jamaath e-Islami Hind, has begun an awareness campaign aiming to defeat “communal forces” in the elections.
Concerned about the possibility of a split in the Muslim vote, which is considered to be substantial enough in many constituencies to swing the outcome, the Mahaz is planning to carry out a study to identify “secular” candidates with the best chance of defeating the “communal” ones. It will follow this up by issuing an advisory to Muslims and all “peace-loving” voters in each constituency.
Mahaz executive committee member Syed Tanveer Ahmed, who is also the editor of Karnataka Muslims, a fortnightly magazine published from Bengaluru, told The Hindu that the group is concerned about a repeat of the Uttar Pradesh elections in Karnataka, where the Muslim vote was divided. “It suits the BJP to patronise these Muslim-centric parties,” he added.
No relenting
But leaders of the SDPI and the AIMIM beg to differ. “They can’t scare us away from the political arena by saying that communal forces will win if we don’t withdraw,” said SDPI general secretary Abdul Majeed, who is preparing to contest from Narasimharaja Assembly constituency in Mysuru. He lost to the Congress’ Tanveer Sait by around 8,000 votes in the last elections.
The SDPI is keen to have its representatives in the Assembly as elected representatives of secular parties will be controlled by the party’s policies, not the community’s interests, Mr. Majeed said.
The AIMIM, which is headed by the Lok Sabha member Asaduddin Owaisi, is eying Muslim-dominated constituencies in the Hyderabad Karnataka and Bombay Karnataka regions.
The party’s State unit head, Usman Ghani, held the Congress responsible for the propaganda on division of Muslim votes with the AIMIM’s entry into the poll fray. “The Congress wants the community to remain subservient to them, stay out of the contest and vote only them,” he said.
The number of constituencies the AIMIM will contest will depend on the outcome of the efforts to tie-up with the JD(S). “Talks are under way between mediators. Mr. Owaisi will speak to the JD(S) leadership in the final stages.”
SDPI on tie-ups
The SDPI is ready for an alliance with secular parties like the Congress and the JD(S).
SDPI State general secretary Abdul Majeed said the party would agree to a seat-sharing arrangement with the parities. “We will not bargain for too many seats either,” he said. So far, neither Congress nor JD(S) has shown interest in tying up with it.