Following complaints from different political parties, the Election Commission has issued notice to BSP for issuing appeal to muslim community. With its presence of 19 per cent of total population in UP Muslims play crucial role in over two dozen of total 80 Lok Sabha seats. One-third population in 15 Lok Sabha seats is Muslim while their presence is in another 39 Lok Sabha seats between 10 and 30 per cent.

Rampur has 49 per cent Muslim population -the highest for any constituency in UP. Even then Hindu candidate from BJP won by defeating muslim candidates of various political parties and muslim organisations. Next to Rampur, is Moradabad with Muslim concentration of 45.5 per cent of voters. Even then Hindu candidate won in 2014 by defeating muslim candidates from Congress SP BSP and Peace Party.

There is a realisation in the community and among the leaders from Congress, SP and BSP alliance that Muslims should votes wisely to ensure defeat of BJP candidates. But at the ground level, Muslims are confused and split their votes between Congress SP-BSP-RLD alliance and other muslim parties. Even if Muslims want to be tactical it is difficult to find as to who is defeating BJP. Voters are left to guessing whom to vote for and this led to split in votes.

BJP is also trying to make inroads in Muslim votes especially women on the issue of triple talaq.

Muslim community is also worried that in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, not a single muslim candidate from total number of 55in fray could make it to Lok Sabha which happened for the first time since Independence.

Decline in its representation in Lok Sabha and UP Vidhan Sabha has unnerved muslim community in Uttar Pradesh which is working very hard to regain its voice in Parliament and legislature.

It is testing time for muslim community as well as parties like Samajwadi Party BSP RLD and Congress to prevent split of community votes in remains phases of Lok Sabha poll. (IPA Service)