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Malegaon:
Nearly half of the Muslims who participated in a pre-poll survey
preferred candidates having a secular image and an inclination
towards the community’s interests over a political alliance or
group.
“Irrespective of their political
affiliations, we will prefer to vote for better candidates wherever
they are in the fray and not a political alliance”, say 48% of the
Muslims who participated in the pre-poll survey conducted by
Inuqilab - a Mumbai based Urdu daily.
The apprehension that their
preferences might lead to a hung assembly and an unstable government
has also not deterred them.
“Whenever there is an election, such
apprehensions are raised and the onus of electing a stable and
secular government is thrown upon the Muslims. This time, however,
we would not be blindly following any political group. Instead, we
are working on electing candidates who are sensitive to Muslim
issues, have determination to work for the community’s problems and
those who would raise the issues pertaining to the community in the
house”, say nearly half of those who participated in the survey.
The Muslims who participated in the
survey also suggested to confirm whether the candidates to whom they
are giving their votes are in a position to win the election or not.
“If the victory of a seemingly suitable candidate is doubtful then
vote for the second best in the list”, suggested 48% of the Muslims
who participated in the survey.
23% Muslims are in favour of the Third
Front, which is led by RPI (Ramdas Athawale), Left parties and
Samajwadi Party. “Comparatively Third Front is better than others.
Moreover, in case of hung assembly it could play a major role in
controlling the ruling alliance”, they opined.
18% Muslims in the survey have
favoured the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party led ruling
alliance. “Only Cong-NCP alliance has the capacity to stop the
Sena-BJP from coming to the power. It would be foolish to handover
the power to the communal forces in a bid to punish the ruling
alliance”, they opined despite admitting that the ruling alliance
had done hardly anything for the Muslim community in the past ten
years.
Some of the Muslims who sent their
opinions via SMSes and phones even suggested to vote for the Saffron
Alliance. “We have tried everyone. Why not give a chance to Shiv
Sena and BJP”, 02% of them said in the survey.
However, there are a significant 09%
Muslims who are tired of the entire system. “Whoever wins the
election and whoever forms the government, nobody is helpful to us.
They come to power because of our votes. But in power, they never
care about our grievances”, they observed while refusing to cast
their votes.
More than three thousand candidates
from various political groups including the independents are in the
fray for the October 13 polls to elect 288 Members of Legislative
Assembly (MLAs). Along with the congress-led ruling alliance, the
opposition parties led by Shiv Sena-BJP and other political groups
are already rattled by the large scale dissents within their rank
and file. The survey report though is a mere indication of the mood
of the electorates and not the actual results. Yet it is enough to
generate panic in the political circles that for long enjoyed the
power because of the Muslim votes.
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