Many in Dalit, Muslim localities doubt EVMs after poll results

Nagpur: It may also be due to rising mercury, excitement over election results was conspicuously absent in the by-lanes of localities like Dalit dominated Indora, or Muslim-majority Mominpura. Congress was banking on these communities’ votes for Nana Patole’s win.
As large turnout from these localities had brightened hopes for his supporters, the results left many living at Dalit and Muslim pockets in disbelief. How could the BJP win despite large-scale voting from these areas, asked the locals, also raising doubts over EVMs. Though a sizeable over 52,000 votes went to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), also having a Dalit vote base, VBA which in alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AMIM also eyed Muslim votes.
Patole, who is a Kunbi, may not have been otherwise acceptable to Dalits due to equations between the two castes, yet people voted for him only to ensure BJP’s defeat. Votes of Dalits and Muslims were garnered by giving calls to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said political workers in north Nagpur.
Sandesh Kotangale, a Congress worker who managed the voters’ data for Patole, said according to the figures compiled during campaign even by most conservative estimates, the tide would have easily been in Patole’s favour. Considering the numbers, even if 60% of votes from these communities had gone to Patole his victory was certain, he said.
“This can also mean either the caste equations have changed or EVMs need to be doubted,” he said.
“The sentiment was certainly damp in my locality and we were surprised indeed. Each one of us had voted for the Congress,” said Ankit Chavare, a young engineer. A majority of voters from Dalit community had voted for Congress making it enough to make Patole win, said a RPI worker.
“We don’t switch on TV sets during Ramzan, but people may be watching the election results on mobile phones. Of course we are not very enthused today,” said Javed Ansari, a trader in Mominpura. In Muslim pockets, political workers and even clerics had made calls for vote for Congress to defeat BJP.
“Certainly I voted for Congress and many others did, but if still BJP wins there may be a problem with the machine,” said Imran Qureshi, in his 60s. Shopkeeper Ayaz Ansari, in his 70s, said whoever comes to power everyone wants peace and development. "Gadkari has done good work though we don't conform to BJP's ideology. I feel all Indians wanted a change at the Centre because of hate politics," he said.
For Arshad, a garment trader from Lucknow who sets up a shop at Nagpur each Ramzan, it is a dull festive season. “Where are the acche din (good times), it has been only bure din (bad times) for us. Business has not revived since note-ban. We want a leader who believes in work, not religion,” he said.
Congress was also hoping to get Halba (weavers community) votes by cashing in on their resentment with BJP over reservation issue. Locals at Bangladesh, a Halba dominated locality near Mominpura, accepted that around half of Halba votes may have gone to Congress. Given the mixed trend, the results did not spring any surprises here. “Around 30% of voters may have gone for Congress but the majority still has hopes on Gadkari,” said Rajuji Raikwar, an e-rickshaw driver.