Opposition to resurrect alliance between Jats and Muslims

Aiming to upset the BJP’s applecart in the upcoming bypoll at Kairana Lok Sabha seat, the united opposition has sought to resurrect the traditional alliance between Jats and Muslims.

Fielding a Muslim candidate, Tabassum Hasan  from Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), whose core voter base is dominant Jat community in west UP, the opposition is confiodent that their candidate would be comfortably home.

The alliance of four parties - RLD, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party  and Congress decided to  filed  a Muslim, with the hope of  bridging the social divide between the two communities after the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in 2013. 

Polling at Kairana is due on 28 May.

“Kairana is a challenge for us as, of the nearly 16 lakh voters, there are at least 5 Lakh Muslims and 2.5 lakh Dalits apart from substantial number of Jats. It is a bold step by the united opposition, especially RLD. Many think it’s a mistake as we have a Muslim candidate and it will help the BJP to polarise voters. But we have to end the divide between the two communities and it is an attempt in that direction,” said former minister and SP leader Ram Asrey Vishwakarma.

 The star campaigner argued that if the two communities decided to join hands in bypolls and the social experiment paied off, the existential crisis of RLD could end.

“The SP decided to give the seat to RLD to contest and BSP too agreed. It’s a sacrifice by both the SP and BSP. Jats and Muslims have traditionally been the voter base of RLD, but the party’s poll prospects withered after the riots in  Muzaffarnagar when the two communities came to a head and decided not to vote together,” the SP leader added.

However, the experiment is not easy to implement on ground as RLD leaders refrain from naming Tabassum Hasan in election speeches. 

“RLD leaders fear that if they name Tabassum Hasan, it may antagonize Jats and they may not vote for the alliance candidate. It is a conscious decision not to name Tabassum Hasan and instead seek vote in the name of RLD,” the SP leader added.

 RLD was formed to protect the legacy of former Prime Minister Charan Singh, who brought Muslims and Jats together to become a political force in the western Uttar Pradesh. The party was formed in 1996 by his son Ajit Singh, a former Union minister.

“There is an attempt to make this poll a contest between Hindus and Muslims. People ask us if we are scared. This time we are trying not to let communal divide happen, it won’t happen. The two communities are together,” said national spokesman of the RLD, Anil Dubey.