Darbhanga: The Rashtriya Janata Dal-Lok Janshakti Party alliance seems to have got an edge over Congress party in the Darbhanga Assembly constituency with more than 25% Muslim population. The factors helping the alliance are its emergence as main rival of the ruling JDU-BJP alliance and the Ayodhya verdict, which has saddened the Muslims.
To know the political scenario and read the Muslim mind TCN visited some Muslim areas in the city including Quilaghat, Rahamganj, Karamganj, Urdu Mohalla, Bhigo, Bakarganj and Laheriasarai, and found Muslims unanimously expressing dejection with behavior of sitting BJP MLA Sanjay Saravagi. They complained that no development work has been done in any Muslim area in last five years. “Not to speak about work, MLA did not even like to visit Muslim areas” expressed Mohammad Mustafa, a resident of Quilaghat.
Fed up with discrimination done by Saravagi during last five years, it seems Muslims of Darbhanga town constituency have made up their mind to vote for RJD candidate Sultan Ahmad Ansari, one time MLA from here, in the assembly election due on October 24.
Darbhanga, one of the seven minority concentration districts in Bihar, was once RJD belt and its MP and most of the MLAs were from the party. But in 2005 assembly election NDA alliance snatched most of the seats and also in 2009 Lok Sabha election then RJD MP Ali Ashraf Fatmi lost to BJP candidate Kirti Azad.
The obvious reason for such result was division of Muslim as well as secular votes between candidates from two secular parties. This time also two Muslim candidates—Sultan Ahmad Ansari of RJD and Dr. Qamrul Hassan of Congress—are in the fray from Darbhanga town constituency which has 26.99% Muslims. So division of secular votes would not be ruled out. But most of the local Muslims TCN talked to were confident for the victory of RJD and they disregarded Congress.
“Currently Congress has no base in Bihar so to vote for it means to waste it” argued Afaq Haider, a native of Urdu Mohalla in Darbhanga, while Mohammad Mustafa linked it with Ayodhya verdict. “Congress is responsible for the all wrong things done with Muslims including Babri verdict which hurt Muslim sentiment, so, 90% Muslim will not vote for Congress this time” he claimed.
Millat College of Darbhanga
“The fight will be between RJD candidate Sultan Ahmad and BJP candidate Sanjay Saravagi. Majority of Muslims is in favor of Sultan Ahmad and if Yadavs and lower castes vote for him, he will win easily” said Rashid Ahmad, owner of a book stall in Karamganj.
The positive point is that unlike past election this time there are only two Muslims out of 11 candidates who are contesting from the seat. This increases the chances of victory for Sultan Ansari if Muslims and Yadavs vote for him collectively.
A glimpse of views of local Muslims on issues, party, candidate
Three major issues of Muslims
Afaq Haider: Education is foremost thing and we need our identity.
Fuzail Ahmad: Education and security are important issues for Muslims. They are being haunted at different part of the country. Internal difference of the community is also serious matter.
Mohammad Shahabuddin: Graveyard of our Mohall (Urdu) is in sorry condition. It does not have walls and also in raining season water gathers there which creates problem to bury the people in that time. Besides, road of our street is in dire situation.
Murtaza Ansari: We are working for last 9 years in Nagar Nigam and get only Rs.100 per day. We are demanding to increase our wages but there is no response.
Mohammad Imtiyaz: Graveyard of our Mohalla (Bhigo) has no walls and strayed dogs are wandering in it freely. No electricity in our Mohalla and lack of water sources is also our basic problem.
Mohammad Mustafa: You will find electricity available here hardly for four hours. In raining season road is blocked as water gathers on it and no solution chalked out for it.
Rashid Ahmad: There are number of problems including employment and security for our youths who are tortured in the name of terror.
Kamal Akhter: The problems of all Indian Muslims are the same. They are treated as second class citizens. At local level electricity,
Which Party is the best?
Afaq Haider: The party which will solve our problem is the best and I will vote for it.
Fuzail Ahmad: I think there is no party which is sincere to solve our problems.
Mohammad Shahabuddin: Not specific but which party work for the common people.
Mohammad Imtiyaz: Congress because it will solve the problem.
Murtaza Ansari: RJD
Mohammad Mustafa: RJD is better among all others. Congress is responsible for the all wrong things done with Muslims including Babri verdict which hurt Muslim sentiment. So we cannot vote for it.
Rashid Ahmad: No party can be said good as all are opportunist.
Kamal Akhter: RJD though JD-U is also good but its attachment with BJP is not acceptable
Performance of sitting MLA
Afaq Haider: The worst condition of road and street and non availability of electricity are enough to tell you the MLA’s performance.
Fuzail Ahmad: Whatever development work he has done during 5 years only in BJP dominated areas and he totally ignored Minority dominated areas.
Mohammad Shahabuddin: He did not do anything in Muslim areas.
Murtaza Ansari: No work has been done in our area.
Mohammad Imtiyaz: He did not do anything.
Mohammad Mustafa: Not to speak about work, MLA did not even like to visit Muslim areas.
Rashid Ahmad: He discriminated Muslim areas in development work.
Kamal Akhter: His performance in Muslim area is zero level.
Who are you going to vote for?
Afaq Haider: We cannot vote for BJP and as far as Congress is concerned it is nowhere in the race for last 15 years. So, only option is to vote for RJD candidate Sultan Ansari. I appeal to all Muslims of the constituency to not let their vote divided. Cast your votes for any secular party but united to prove potency of your votes.
Fuzail Ahmad: Sultan Ansari is the good candidate because when he was MLA he worked for the physical development of the town so, he should be voted for. Muslim leadership should come forward to protect the community votes from division.
Mohammad Shahabuddin: Yet to make mind, will decide later.
Murtaza Ansari: I will vote for Sultan Ahmad Ansari because he has done good work in the past.
Mohammad Imtiyaz: Will vote for Congress candidate Dr. Qamrul Hassan because we want to see Congress rule the state.
Mohammad Mustafa: We will vote for Sultan Ansari and same will do 90% Muslims of the city and sure of his victory as Yadavs and lower castes are also going to vote for him due to Lalu and Paswan.
Rashid Ahmad: In current scenario to vote for RJD will be in the favor of the community so I will do the same.
Kamal Akhter: Will vote for RJD because to vote for any others means to repeat the same mistake we had done in the past.
Sultan Ahmed Ansari talking to TCN on issues and problems in Darbhanga town (the interview was shot on July 1, 2010)
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