The poll cauldron!

The AIMIM’s five seats win out of its contested 14 seats contested in the Seemanchal region of Bihar has boosted its morale. Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of MIM, dared to change the political map, landing in Furfura Sharif and announcing a joint fight with Abbas Siddiqi Pirzada take on the might of BJP and Mamata Banerjee’s TMC. The MIM and Furfura will announce their new political outfit by 30th January. The Muslim leaders expect a substantial portion of the State’s nearly 27% Muslims, unhappy with the present government and the State’s political parties. They plan to tap the Dalits, Matuas and the backward classes, 39 per cent of the population.

For centuries, Bengal has had a sizeable Muslim population. Murshidabad has been the cradle of Bengal’s Islamic stamp and the State, then spread wide including Jharkhand, Bihar, parts of Odisha, Assam and Bangladesh. Millions had taken refuge in West Bengal during and after the Bangladesh liberation war. The Left Front Government provided them with land and occupation. Thus, the minorities became an indispensable voting bloc and were exploited by successive governments for the last fifty years.

The Muslims are lately aggrieved over their community’s tardy progress as compared to the majority Hindus. Probably this is due to the tall and impossible poll promises.

The entry of Owaisi at this juncture threatens TMC more than the challenge posed by the BJP. Owaisi could be focusing on the 100 seats and Fufura, from 45 seats. Owaisi will focus on Murshidabad (66.2), Malda (51.3), North Dinajpur (49.92), Birbhum (37), Cooch Behar (25.54), North 24 Parganas (25.82) and South 24 Parganas (35.6), Nadia (26.76), Howrah (26.2), South Dinajpur (24.63), besides the Hindi speaking Muslims of Kolkata (20.6). (The figures in bracket are the percentage of Muslim population according to 2011 Census).

The few crossovers and desertions may be of little consequence to TMC compared to Owaisi, Abbas Siddiqi’s political provocation. With its deep roots of more than three decades of communism, Bengal stayed away from caste, creed and religion. None bothered if Brahmins like Bhattacharya or Banerjee headed the government. A progressive Bengal used to think differently.

The Hindu majority-banking BJP party counters the minority appeasement for decades. It has also opened wider the gates for minority leaders like Owaisi and Siddiqi to wedge and stake their claim in the poll-pie.

The ensuing Assembly polls is a turning point in politics and could redefine the tolerant spirit of the State. A lot depends on how judicious the voters will exercise their franchise.

Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix