Lok Sabha elections: Muslim candidates of Bihar

By Manzar Bilal, TwoCircles.net,

Patna: Bihar is one of the states in India where Muslims are in a large number. But unfortunately like other states from Bihar also their representations in assembly and parliament are miserable.

Therefore, after the announcement of 15th Lok Sabha elections Muslim Organizations from Bihar jointly demanded that all the political parties to give Muslims their due share.

But how much the political parties are acting upon the demand the lists of candidates show it clearly. Almost all the major parties in Bihar have issued their lists of candidates for the LS elections.

RJD gave tickets to five Muslim Candidates out of 28 constituencies that it is contesting ; Taslimuddin from Kishanganj, Shakil Ahmad Khan from Aurangabad, Ali Ashraf Fatmi from Darbhanga, Abdul Bari Siddiqi from Madhubani and Heena Shahab, wife of RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, from Siwan.

JDU gave its tickets to two Muslim candidates out of 25 seats of its share; Dr. Monazir Hasan from Begusarai and Mahmood Ashraf from Kishanganj.

LJP included two Muslims’ name in its list of 12 seats. Though Muslims have been demanding Ram Vilas Paswan to give at least three seats to Muslim candidates but it is said that LJP has given adequate representation to all the caste and communities within its limitation.

The two Muslim candidates who got tickets of LJP are- Zakir Anwar who will contest from Araria and Ashfaque Karem who will contest from Katihar.

Muslim voters from Katihar welcomed the decision of LJP for giving ticket to Ashfaque Kareem who is the founder of Katihar College and a respected personality among the people. It is to be noted that NCP senior leader Tariq Anwar is sitting MP in Katihar. Therefore political analysts say that it will be interesting to see that whom people will chose in this election- its old MP who has been among them for a long period or Ashfaque Kareem who has done magnificent job in education field and well known to the people.

But responsible Muslims are of the opinions that this will divide the secular votes and surly benefit will go to the NDA alliance.

Meanwhile, LJP also announced its candidates from three constituencies in Jharkhand. Salahuddin Ansari is one of them who will contest from Godda while the name of candidates for two other constituencies is under consideration.

Though surprisingly, angry Congress who decided to contest in all the seats did not release its final list of candidate so far but Dr. Shakeel Ahmad, the state minister of home ministry, is expected to contest from Madhubani.