By Waquar Hasan,
Patna / New Delhi, 14 Aug 2015: The guess game is on and will continue at least for the next 24 hours. With growing popularity (unprecedented for any Muslim politician in recent history), Asaduddin Owaisi is a sought-after like a hot cake. After successful debut in the last Maharashtra Assembly election (where his party All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won two seats), the entry of Owaisi in Bihar – if it takes place – is taken as a wakeup call for so-called secular parties as his was in Maharashtra.
Owaisi is coming to Bihar to attend a politically-loaded program while the assembly elections are round the corner. The program is being organized by Samaji Insaf Front – a front for social justice – on 16th August in Kishanganj – country’s largest Muslim population district. Akhtarul Iman, former Member of state Legislative Assembly from the area and leader of the front, has invited Owaisi as chief guest. The timing of the program has triggered buzz and rumor that whether Owaisi’s party is going to contest Bihar assembly elections. If yes, then will it divide secular votes and communally polarize the atmosphere?
Talking to IndiaTomorrow.net about the agenda of his program, Akhtrul Imarn, one of the most popular young Muslim politicians in the state, said, “We are going to hold a program ‘Causes of backwardness of Seemanchal and its solution’. We have invited Asaduddin Owaisi as a chief guest in this program. Indeed, we have formed a front, ‘Samaji Insaaf Front’ to fight against oppression and deprivation of the people. The program is under the banner of this Front,”
On why he has invited Owaisi, Iman said, “Asaduddin Owaisi speaks for Justice and downtrodden people. He represents oppressed community. That is why we have invited him to this program. This region of Seemanchal (Araria, Purnia, Katihar and Kishanganj) has always remained backward. We are constantly being deprived of our rights,”
On possibility of communal polarization in the wake of his electoral entry in Bihar, Iman said, “Polarization is not written on his face. He is a leader of the oppressed. I cannot certainly say now that he will contest election or not. We will see what happens after this program,”
However, intellectuals and community activists are not offering favors to Owaisi.
While Najmul Huda Sani, chairman of Oxford International School in Kishanganj said, “I think they have made their mind on preparing for the election. They are going to enter in the election very soon. Though they have not yet made announcement about that. I think that will come soon. As for my personal opinion is concerned I don’t hold Mr. Owaisi or Owaisis in great regard”.
Explaining the reason of increasing popularity of Owaisi, Sani, a former doctoral student of Jamia Millia Islamia said, “I think that this is reflection of frustration among Muslim youth. And also there is reaction of communal politics that has been in great demand among both communities – Hindu and as well as Muslim. One of the reasons why he and his party are so popular, is failure of secular parties. They have never delivered their promises made to Muslim.”
Sani thinks that Owaisi will certainly divide secular vote but if his party allies with any secular party, the atmosphere will not be so polarized, “I think he will divide secular vote. But, somebody told me that he is also in talk with Pappu Yadav, a heavyweight politician of the state. If he forges a coalition with Pappu Yadav, his communal side will decrease.”
But Arshad Ajmal, eminent political observer in Patna, is not in favor of Owaisi’s party contesting the Bihar election. “He must not contest Bihar Assembly election. Now, there is no Muslim party in Bihar. In Bihar, the basic issue is how India will be. Will it be BJP-type or a secular country? The issue of Muslim community is that they want their representatives in Parliament. This desire is reasonable. The place and time of it, however, is not reasonable.”
Ajmal has also apprehension about the society getting polarized after Owaisi’s entry in Bihar. “If Asaduddin Owaisi will polarize the atmosphere or not, it is a matter of future but he has potentiality to polarize. That is why we are afraid. People will accept him or not, this is also a separate issue.”
Nayyar Fatmi, a community activist and former journalist, echoes Ajmal. He believes that if Owaisi’s party contests Bihar election, the secular forces will be weakened. “If he wants to contest this election, who can stop him? It is only up to Asaduddin Owaisi to decide if his contesting Bihar assembly election is in interest of Muslims or not and if he will be helpful to defeat communal forces. My opinion is that he must not fight Bihar Assembly election. It will weaken the secular forces. It will divide Muslim vote, not secular vote. He cannot get secular vote but only Muslim vote. If you go at social networking sites, you will get a large number of his Muslim supporters there. He has this quality that he can incite their emotions”.
But Asaduddin Owaisi, a three-time Member of Parliament from Hyderabad, has kept the card close to his chest. All eyes are on his debut public address in Bihar on 16th August.
