Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to remain hesitant in fielding Muslim candidates on Mayor and Municipality chairman posts in the ensuing local body elections in Madhya Pradesh though there are chances that it would field more community candidates for the post of Corporator.
BJP (minority cell) State president Hidayatullah Sheikh while talking to ‘The Pioneer’ on Tuesday said, “There seems no chance that a Muslim would get ticket for Mayor and Municipality chairman post as in BJP tickets are given on the basis of winnability, but I am sure that this time more Muslims would be fielded for the post of Corporator.”
Sheikh further said that his party had over hundred Muslim Corporators in the outgoing local bodies and this time we expect that number of tickets to the community would be doubled in comparison to the number of tickets given last time.
But Sheikh has other concerns, as the local Muslim leaders are not ready to contest corporator’s election as they aspire for plum posting in boards or corporations after the elections are over.
Sheikh’s concern seems worthy as the minority cell leaders aspiring for posting in minority institutions as chairman or deputy chairman feels that their chances of getting nominated to post of their choice would lost.
A minority leader on condition of anonymity told that he is front runner for a plum posting in a minority institution and if he contests the Municipal election and loses, he would be in greater loss. Muslims might be voting for the BJP in the lok Sabha and assembly elections in large numbers but when it comes to smaller elections like Municipal ones than they prefer the Congress, hence I am avoiding to contest this election though the party want to field me from any ward of my choice, he added.