The question is whether the wounds of last year Muzaffarnagar riots are still fresh and the wedge between Muslims and Jats has yet to diminish. If yes, then the one-third Muslims of the total electorate will decide the fate of the lok Sabha election on Muzaffarnagar seat.
The riots which were spread to rural areas for the first time here, has left a lasting scar on the people of Muzaffarnagar, once known as ‘Mohabbat Nagar’ (city of love) because of its harmony and mutual faith and affection among the residents are still some villages of Muzaffarnagar where the riot victims had not returned since they were displaced during the riots in September last. The riot-hits have simmering anger against the ruling party though Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav and CM Akhilesh Yadav have constantly been listing the pro-active measures they had taken.
No doubt, the sweetness of this sugarcane belt of Uttar Pradesh has turned sour and the sentiments will take precedence over the basic issues to decide the result on this seat.
The constituency, spread over two districts of Muzaffarnagar and Meerut has about 15.50 lakh voters. The lok Sabha seat is comprised of five Assembly segments, out of which Budhana and Muzaffarnagar have SP MlAs, BSP in Charthwal, RlD in Khatauli and Sardhana (Meerut) has controversial BJP MlA Sangeet Som.
The Constituency is dominated by Jat and Muslims which unfortunately are the divided lot this time due to riots. Over all the entire constituency, which has 479 villages in it, houses mixed poulation of Muslims, Jats, Aainis, Kashyaps, Thakurs, Tyagis, Brahamins and Dalits.
Of a total of 30 candidates in the fray, there looked like a triangular contest among BSP’s Kadir Rana, the sitting MP, Congress-RlD candidate Pankaj Agarwal and BJP’s Sanjiv Baliyan while SP’s Virendra Singh is trying hard to regain the lost ground.