It was exactly 30 years ago that a lanky debutante worked his magical wrists to thump three centuries in his first three Tests and make a majestic entry into the cricketing world’s record books. Statistics played an interesting part in this crafty batsman’s career even when it abruptly ended due to match-fixing allegations against him. His dream of playing his 100th Test match never materialised as a result. But just as he debuted with a century, he remained a centurion even in his 99th Test, which eventually turned out to be his last one.
In 2014, five years since he made his successful political debut from Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh, former Indian cricket team captain Md Azharuddin is now in with a “50:50” chance to rewrite Rajasthan’s political record books. Parachuted into this Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency by the Congress in place of its sitting MP and Union Minister Namo Narain Meena, Azhar’s win would make him only the second Muslim MP from this desert State in 62 years, and the first in almost the last two decades.
Since 1952, Rajasthan has sent only one Muslim MP, though twice, to the lok Sabha. Md Ayub Khan made it to the lower House in 1984 and then again, in 1991 from Jhunjhunu. Nevertheless, the odds are stacked heavily against Azhar for the April 24 polls in this constituency comprising the two districts of Tonk — the erstwhile princely State, and Sawai Madhopur — known as the ‘Tiger City’ due to the world renowned Ranthambore National Park.
Despite being Congress’ lone Muslim candidate in Rajasthan, Azhar cannot depend simply on his community votes as all the over-a-dozen Muslim candidates put up by the party in last year’s Assembly elections lost. In contrast, two of the four Muslim candidates fielded by the BJP won. To his disadvantage is also the fact that all the eight Assembly seats under the constituency were won by the BJP last year.
Further, Azhar is locked in a fierce multi-cornered contest — a rarity in Rajasthan, which mostly witnesses a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress. A wealthy businessman Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria of the BJP; Jagmohan Meena, a former Rajasthan Administrative Service officer and brother of influential Meena leader Kirori lal Meena of the National People’s Party; a popular and affluent real estate baron with a ‘social work’ track record Makhan lal Meena (Independent) and a lawyer from the AAP Mukesh Tahria are all out to ensure Azhar doesn’t have the final roar.
It’s a confusing mix of rallying points by the players in the fray but ultimately it is the caste and community equations that will be the “decisive” factor in this constituency, located some 180 kilometres from Jaipur.
Azhar’s poor performance record as the Moradabad MP is projected by all his rivals. However, just like him, his main contender Jaunpuria (former Haryana MlA) too is being dubbed an ‘outsider’ by the NPP and Independent candidates, who are playing the ‘local’ card but themselves stare at the risk of a division in their dominant Meena vote bank giving an advantage to the BJP and the Congress. Possibility of sections of Congress’ traditional Muslim voters going with the AAP is also not ruled out. If the Meenas are a formidable force here, then the Muslims, Gujjars, Rajputs, Jats and Brahmins also have a considerable sway.
“Azhar’s appeal and popularity as a cricketer is attracting the voters. Whether they will translate into votes is uncertain. His wife Sangeeta Bijlani campaigning for him has added a glam quotient. But his non-performer and outsider tags coupled with the crucial factors of a strong anti-incumbency against the Congress and the Modi wave in the State work against him,” pointed out a senior journalist. Jaunpuria, a Gurjar, can see the Jats also voting for him as the BJP has fielded over half-a-dozen candidates from their community in Rajasthan. And the Brahmins and Rajputs could go the BJP way.
Both the Meenas, however, will be a force to reckon with. “Kirori lal Meena is still the tallest Meena leader in the State and our community could go strongly for his brother. Makhan lal Meena is popular among the poor given his philanthropic work including conducting mass marriages and he is sure to queer the pitch of all,” Mukesh, a Meena who is a banker and resident of Ganganagar City, pointed out indicating at his preference for a candidate from his community. In all, an intense battle awaits to decide if Azhar creates history or gets simply bowled out.