The Muslim community in Uttarakhand are disillusioned with the Congress party and now they are moving towards the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as it has given them a proper representation, claimed State president of BSP Meghraj Singh, while talking with The Pioneer.
Singh, who is campaigning in the Haridwar parliamentary constituency from last many days, seemed to be confident of putting a very good show.He said that the Muslim community voted for the Congress in the last elections but Harish Rawat who was elected from here did not look after his constituency.
Singh blamed Rawat for only catering people from Almora and totally neglecting Haridwar. The BSP leader said minorities in Haridwar have realised that only BSP can give proper representation to them. The party has nominated two Muslims out of the four declared candidates in Uttarakhand. Hazi Mohammad Islam is the party candidate from Haridwar while laique Ahmed would test his luck as BSP nominee from Nanital seat.
Singh said that Muslims were very upset with Congress as the district president of Congress from Haridwar Rajendra Chaudhary has challenged the election of District Panchayat president Anjum Begum who is a BSP member. He said that Muslims and dalits constitute a big chunk of votes in Haridwar and their inclination towards BSP is clearly visible.
Haridwar has a 15.53 lakh voters and Muslim and Dalit constitute almost 45 per cent of the total electorate here. The BSP has tactically nominated a Muslim candidate in hope of getting their votes. The party is already a formidable force in Haridwar with its candidates winning from three assembly segments of Bhagwanpur, Jharbera and Manglore in the last assembly elections.