Congress takes ‘third parties’ help to woo Muslim voters

NEW DELHI: In an effort to retain the Muslim vote, Congress is taking a leaf out of its 2004 playbook and reaching out to NGOs, local luminaries, social outfits and religious leaders, known in Congress parlance as “third parties”.

The Congress hopes that these “third parties” will make a positive pro-minority pitch that will help it woo the disenchanted Muslim voter. They will address a wide range of issues such as the strengthening of communal forces to the measures taken by the UPA government to improve the lot of the Muslims. “The third parties are in a sense independent validation of the Congress’ credentials among minorities,” said a leader involved in the effort.

In 2009, the Muslim vote was instrumental in giving the Congress its winning edge-- the party secured 37% of the community’s vote. Over the past five years, however, Muslims have grown increasingly disillusioned with the party.

Against this backdrop, the BJP has been reaching out to the community. The BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has focused on development and jobs, while party president Rajnath Singh is trying to allay concerns about the BJP’s attitude to the people belonging to the community, given its Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh roots and perceptions about the Gujarat chief minister’s role in the riots there in 2002.

These rapprochement moves are being viewed with some nervousness by the Congress. Traditionally, the Muslim voter has favoured the Congress over the BJP, given the latter’s history of perceived animosity against adherents of the religion because of the Babri Masjid demolition.

But more than the BJP, the Congress is concerned about the Muslim vote shifting to regional satraps, who would have no qualms about post-poll partnerships with the BJP.

Minority leaders in the Congress acknowledge that the party has not done enough for the community. “The Congress approach has been cautious and minimalist—to do the absolute minimum required to bolster the Congress among Muslims even though there has been an erosion in the community’s support for the party,” a Congress leader said.

There are apprehensions about the decline in representation under the Congress. “Leadership development and creating a strong cadre among Muslims has been a problem, and the party should pay attention to this,” said a senior Congress leader belonging to the minority community.

“Where are the qualified leaders, who have full understanding of the problems that the community faces, and can find ways to redress these issues?” asked the senior Muslim leader. “During election season, the clerics turn to the Congress and offer themselves as agents. But they are nowhere to be seen during normal times. Is this the way to approach the Muslim community?”

One of the key reasons for the disillusionment is the number of Muslims that are being held by law enforcement agencies without due process and justifiable probable cause. “The single most important issue that is contributing to the disenchantment is unlawful detentions. The Congress despite being in government has done little to address the issue,” said a mid-level Muslim leader. “Statements and letters by the home minister on the issue have only created more controversy, not addressed the problem,” he said, referring to a recommendation by Sushil Kumar Shinde in September last year to all state governments that they shouldn’t detain innocent Muslims in terrorism cases.

In 2009, Congress identified implementation of the Sachar Committee report’s findings on the state of the Muslim community as one the challenges it sought to address. But there has been little progress on implementation, according to a grassroots Congress leader said. “It took the government full five years to set up a monitoring committee. Budgets were inadequate, policy designs didn’t address needs and aspirations,” he said. A senior leader who was involved in the consultations for drafting the party's manifesto said that the key message from Muslims is “implement what you promised.”