Ground report from the constituencies like Ballimaran, Mustafabad and Matia Mahal are not very encouraging for Haroon Yousuf, Hasan Ahmed and Shoaib Iqbal.
By M. Anas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 21 Jan 2015: Five Muslim legislators in the last Delhi Assembly, all belonging to the embattled Congress party, are the biggest hopes of the party to fare well in the upcoming Assembly elections. But a random voters’ survey of their constituencies reveals that not all of them seem safe this time. All these legislators also carry the aspirations of the community as they have represented the community in Delhi Assembly and are considered Muslim faces of Delhi state politics.
Among these five, only Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed of Seelampur seems poised for a clear-cut victory as the electorate in his constituency comprise around 65% Muslim votes and Mateen is favoured by all sections. He is representing the constituency since 1993 and has remained unchallenged so far.
Mateen is also the chairperson of the Delhi Wakf Board.
“Mateen has a clean image and is people-friendly. Besides, challengers against him are not so strong,” was an overwhelming local opinion when this correspondent toured the area this week.
The electorate in Matia Mahal, the constituency of the powerful Shoaib Iqbal, formerly with Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, is confused whether or not to vote for Iqbal, who for the last 25 years has voiced his aversion toward the Congress.
“Though Shoaib is popular among the working classes and sentimental blocs of voters because of his staunch stance on community-related issues, the educated youth are disdainful of him. They detest his style of functioning. They say that he has amassed much property and used every opportunity to buy any disputed domestic and commercial property through his extended family, but has not shown that much enthusiasm when it comes to the real development of the area. The area is very poorly wired, faces acute shortage of drinking water and is in dire need of quality primary and secondary level schools. Shoaib doesn’t seem to have any policy on this,” said Hamid Ashrafi, who runs a publication in the area.
Matia Mahal, which has nearly 65% of Muslim voters, from about 1.20 lakh from the total electorate, houses Urdu Bazaar, which is one of the largest markets of Urdu books in Asia. Still, the area lacks in literacy.
Aam Aadmi Party’s young Asim Ahmed Khan is challenging Shoaib on issues of area development. “The youth, who are now asserting themselves in this area and also comprise a major chunk of voters, is asking where the development is. Where are schools, water and electricity? Shoaib Iqbal is a five-time MLA from the area. What has he done except hopping from one party to another and amassing wealth for his family?” asked Asim.
When questioned, Shoaib replied to these allegations: “You visit the area and ask people why they have kept faith in me, and if I disappoint them. Their response will be my response.”
This correspondent toured the area and found that people have mixed opinions about Shoaib. While some, including those associated with the local Congress unit, were critical of Shoaib’s candidature, many saw him as the face of Old Delhi. People in areas like Sitaram Bazar said that they would back the BJP candidate, whoever he is.
Baharatiya Janata Party has fielded a local Shakil Anjum. Ajum too has his following in the area.
Like Shoaib, there are grudges against Ballimaran’s five-time MLA and former minister Haroon Yousuf. “Where does he reside except in his residence here?” was a common question people asked in Ballimaran.
“I haven’t seen Haroon Saheb touring our market area in the last few years,” said Omkar Maheshwari, a sweetmeat vendor.
Attempts to contact Haroon at his poll office were met with lethargic ignorance.
Meanwhile, Yusuf’s opponent Imran Hussain, councillor from the area, has been fielded by AAP and is said to be gaining popularity among the masses.
“Imran is young and dynamic. Even in 2013, he contested on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket and managed to secure more than 16,000 votes. This time he is likely to go beyond the 30,000 mark, which could be the winning number. And this is possible as people have acute grievances against Yousuf and are pinning their desperate hopes on Imran,” said Mohammed Anas Faizi, a school teacher from the area.
Prospects of Mustafabad MLA Hasan Ahmed too were not bright. Hasan won a close contest against BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan in a constituency divided along social sections as Muslims, Dalits and OBCs. Hasan enjoys the support of the majority of Muslims, but, locals like Narain Singh, a Hindi journalist, feel that if BJP manages to attract the Hindu vote en masse, it will sail through. “Last time, a BSP candidate played spoilsport and some OBCs voted for Hasan. If BJP manages to convince BSP not to field its candidate and all other sections vote for it, Hasan will be ousted,” said Singh.
Locals said that Hasan is working hard to woo the confidence of the voters, especially Muslims and Dalits. “Recently, he has got areas around mosques and temples in Muslim and Dalit areas developed. Besides, he is regularly visiting these areas to keep voters happy,” said Aqil, a social activist.
Locals also feel that a delay in the announcement of BJP’s candidate may prove harmful for the party. “If BJP could declare its candidate and make him visible to the voters since the very start, poll equations would be different now,” said Malti Devi, a freelance political worker in the area.
Asif Mohammed Khan, a popular Congress MLA from Okhla, too faces challenge for Muslim votes from AAP’s Amanatullah Khan and for Hindu votes from BJP’s Brahm Singh Bidhuri. Okhla is almost equally divided among Hindu and Muslim votes. In case Muslim votes are divided among Asif and Amanatullah, Bidhuri will easily sail through.
“Asif enjoys both the goodwill and scorn of Okhla residents. Hindu voters of the Jasola and nearby areas detest him because of his faith. Some Muslims of Jamia Nagar too have complaints against him. But he has carried out many development activities in the area like fencing the local graveyard and renovation of mosques, madrasa, roads and sewage lines just before the elections. Such tricks work. But Asif will have to ward off Amanatullah threat for Muslim votes and will also have to win over Hindus to come through,” said Asfar Faridy, a journalist based in Jamia Nagar.
