No Muslim elected to lS from UP this time

After Independence, it is the first time that Uttar Pradesh will not be sending any Muslim to the lok Sabha.

With the Modi wave sweeping across the state and the Muzaffarnagar riots polarising the voters, all the Muslim candidates in the fray in UP lost the poll. 

one of the 44 Muslim candidates fielded by the three main political parties — Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party and Congress — could taste victory in the 2014 parliamentary election.

The BSP had fielded the highest number (19) of Muslim candidates followed by 14 by the SP and 11 by Congress. Other political parties like Peace Party, Ulema Council and even Aam Admi Party had fielded Muslim candidates, but most of them had to face humiliating defeat.The BJP had not fielded any Muslim candidate from UP. Its Muslim face, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, had contested from Rampur last time but he did not contest the 2014 parliamentary election.

In the 2009, eight Muslim candidates had won the lok Sabha election from UP. The BSP and Congress also had four each victorious Muslims. However, the SP had to face the Muslim wrath for alliance between Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kalyan Singh, who is an accused in the Ayodhya demolition case. In the 2004 election, 11 Muslims were elected to lok Sabha polls UP, seven of SP and four of the BSP.

In the 2012 Assembly election, 69 Muslims had emerged victorious, the maximum 42 being of the ruling Samajwadi Party. In the 2007 Assembly election also, 56 Muslims were elected to the Vidhan Sabha.The so-called secular parties have always vied with one another for the Muslim votes in UP and this time also the SP and BSP promised to give reservations to the community, if voted to  power.