On Monday, the last day of Uttar Pradesh assembly by-election campaign, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen President Asaduddin Owaisi, while addressing a public meeting on Meerapur seat, has once again scratched the wounds of the Muzaffarnagar riots. Owaisi said that riots were going on in Muzaffarnagar, when the Chief Minister was Akhilesh Yadav. Instead of tending to the victim’s wounds, he was watching the festivities in Saifai. Along with mentioning the Muzaffarnagar riots, Owaisi was seen trying to mobilize Muslims by giving the example of Palestinians.
Asaduddin Owaisi said that in 2013, when riots were going on in Muzaffarnagar, Akhilesh Yadav was watching the celebrations in Saifai. Fifty thousand Muslims were displaced from their homes due to the riots. Our mothers and sisters were subjected to atrocities and relief camps were bulldozed, but they could not get justice. Owaisi said that there are no people who lose courage after seeing the election results in UP. Our spirits will always be high, but it is up to you to decide. He said that in a democracy, do not vote out of fear and do not reach conclusions before the war. BJP has to be stopped, but don’t kill yourself trying to stop it.
Owaisi gave the example of Palestine to the people of Meerapur and said that I am giving an example, don’t feel bad. Palestinians have been fighting in Gaza for 70 years. They are dying. 40 thousand have died so far and 12 lakh have become homeless, but look at their courage – they are not afraid. They are competing. Because Israel is a cruel country and that cruel country is committing atrocities in Gaza, but they are fighting in Gaza. In this way, Owaisi was seen trying to mobilize the Muslim community. He also said that the Waqf Bill Act has been introduced in the Parliament. If our party had at least three members of Parliament, would Modi have thought of doing such a thing? There is a conspiracy to grab our mosque, madrassa and graveyard lands through the Waqf Bill.
Asaduddin Owaisi is planning to make the direct contest between SP and BJP in the UP by-elections triangular. For this, just as an attempt has been made to scratch the wounds of the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots and make you realize that the hearts of Muslims, whom you consider secular and consider your well-being, are not going to stand with you in times of crisis. For this, giving the example of SP General Secretary Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam, he said what happened to Azam Khan, what help did Akhilesh Yadav give. Owaisi expressed the need to create his own leadership and for this he gave the example of people fighting for Gaza in Palestine.
The way Owaisi was seen mobilizing Muslims by giving the example of Muzaffarnagar and Palestine, it has become a political challenge for SP. Asaduddin Owaisi has fielded his candidates on three seats in Western UP, in which his main focus is on two seats. Owaisi has made Mohammad Waris the candidate in Kundarki and Arshad Rana in Mirapur. Owaisi is not only contesting elections on these two Muslim dominated seats of Western UP, but due to the kind of political move he has played, the tension has increased the most for Akhilesh Yadav.
Muslim vs Muslim on Meerapur seat
RLD’s Chandan Chauhan was elected MLA from Meerapur assembly seat in 2022 with the support of SP, but after becoming MP from Bijnor seat, by-elections are being held on this seat. RLD has now formed an alliance with BJP and Jayant Choudhary has fielded Mithlesh Pal from Meerapur seat, SP has made Sumbul Rana, daughter-in-law of former MP Kadir Rana, its candidate, while BSP has placed its bet on Shahnazar. Similarly, Chandrashekhar Azad’s party has made Zahid Hussain its candidate and now Owaisi has also fielded Arshad Rana. Except RLD, all the parties have fielded Muslim candidates on Meerapur seat, due to which the contest has become interesting.
Muslim vs Muslim on Kundarki seat
Ziaurhan of SP was elected MLA from Kundarki assembly seat in 2022, but has become MP from Sambhal seat in 2024. Former MLA Haji Rizwan from SP is contesting from Kundarki seat, while BSP is contesting Raftaullah alias Chhidda, Mohammad Waris from Owaisi’s AIMIM and Chandrashekhar Azad is contesting Haji Chand Babu from ASP. On this seat too, every party except BJP has placed its bet on a Muslim candidate. BJP has fielded Ramveer Singh Thakur, who is focusing on Muslim votes. In such a situation, the eyes of all parties are on Muslim votes.
What will be the dispersion in Muslim votes?
In Muslim dominated seats like Meerapur and Kundarki, all the opposition parties have placed their bet on Muslim candidates, due to which there is a possibility of dispersion of Muslim votes. There are around 35 percent Muslim voters in Meerapur seat while there are more than 62 percent Muslim voters in Kundarki. In this way, Muslim voters are decisive on both the seats, but the way all the opposition parties have fielded Muslim candidates, the wishes of BJP and RLD have blossomed.
Although, this situation was seen in many seats in the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections of UP, but the Muslim community unitedly voted against BJP. Muslim candidates of BSP and other parties were ignored, but the voting pattern of Muslims has been different in the by-elections. Asaduddin Owaisi has made a leader from Congress a candidate for Meerapur seat, while he has placed his bet on an influential face in Kundarki.
Owaisi’s party has its own political base on Kundarki seat. On both these seats, SP’s political base is completely based on Muslim vote bank, because there are no Yadav voters on both the seats. The way Owaisi has fielded Muslim candidates and is trying to woo Muslims, the political equation of SP seems to be getting disturbed. From Owaisi to SP and Chandrashekhar Azad, everyone is busy trying to garner Muslim votes, while BJP and RLD have their eyes on the vote bank of the majority community. In such a situation, it remains to be seen how Akhilesh Yadav is able to break Owaisi’s political maze.
