It is to be seen as to how Samajwadi Party is able to retain its traditional vote bank of muslims and is benefitted with alliance with Congress and on the other hand BSP playing aggressive muslim card to get more seats this time. BJP too is seeing the advantage of split of muslim votes in its favour. It would be worth mentioning here Samajwadi Party which swept to power in 2012 assembly poll, had won 34 seats followed by 18 by BSP and 10 of BJP and three of Congress and Peace party too had won one seat. Out of these 11 districts, six have Muslim population more than 30 per cent of total population and in some places like Moradabad and Rampur, it is almost 50 per cent.

Keeping this aspect in mind, SP-Congress combine and BSP made maximum efforts to reach out to Muslim community to get its support. So much so, Muslim clerics, Ulema council and Muslim organizations were approached by political parties to get their support. Muslim face of BSP and former minister Nasimuddin Siddqui succeeded in getting support from Imam Bukhari of Jama Masji of Delhi, Shia religious leader Maulana Kalbe Jawad,and many others who issued appeal in favour of Mayawati and her party candidates. On the other hand sunni leader Khadlid Rasheed Firangimahali and Principal of Nadwa-ul-islam Maulana Saeed-ur-Rehman Nadvi and others met the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and announced their support for Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance.

Going by the experience of first phase of polling the muslims voted to strong candidates of Samajwadi Party, BSP, RLD and Congress in order to defeat BJP. Too many muslim candidates in same seats will also creat problem for political parties. Out of 67 seats, BSP has fielded 27 muslim candidates followed by 25 from SP-Congress combine and 13 from RLD. There are 15 seats where all the political parties have fielded muslim candidates to create problem for Muslim voters.

In Rampur, prominent cabinet minister Mohd Azam is facing Tanveer from BSP and Asim khan from RLD. Similarly Azam khan’s son Abdullah Azam is contesting from Swar assembly constituency and he is facing sitting BSP MLA Nawab Kazim Ali. In Badaun also the prestige of sitting SP MP Dharmendra Yadav, cousin brother of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is at stake. Like other parties and other officials candidates SP candidates are also facing stiff resistance from rebels who are enjoying support from Mulayam Singh yadav and his younger brother Shivpal Yadav. Congress is banking on the popularity of firebrand leader Imran Masood who had shot into limelight with his controversial statement on Narendra Modi. He was given free hand by Congress high command in ticket distribution in his region. Although BJP is banking on the split in muslim votes for BSP, SP-Congress and RLD but at the same facing anger from the voters on the issue of hardship faced due to demonetisation,

Thousands of workers in brass industry of Moradabad and wooden furniture industry of Bareilly and other traditional industries in Bareilly and other places were rendered jobless due to poor management of demonetisation and lost their jobs. Now their families have resolved to oppose BJP candidates. So much so, BJP leaders and supporters were humiliated by the public on the issue of demonetisation in various constituencies.

Political analysts feel that BJP national president Amit Shah may claim that his party would win 50 out of 73 seats of first phase and 90 in next two phases but the reality is different. (IPA Service)