Muslims are no longer anybody's foot soldiers

NEW DELHI: The recent Assam assembly polls gave a pointer to the changing trend in the country’s Muslim politics. A significant section of the community, swayed by trans-national grievances and quest for real empowerment, rallied behind a party floated on the eve of elections. The result: the Congress barely managed the numbers to form a government in Guwahati.

In Uttar Pradesh, which is considered to be the laboratory of Muslim politics, the trend has now become more visible. In a state where every numerically preponderant section displays a quest for power, the community was not content remaining the foot soldier of any particular political party. For some years now, the community has been the power elite in the state.

Every grievance, real or imaginary, has prompted parties claiming to be the champions of their interests to spring on their feet and in their defence. Every decision is being projected as minority-friendly; and anyone who dares question such submission to the minority veto is tarred with the nasty communal brush.

It is but natural then that the aspiration levels have been raised manifold. The result: the community has made it clear through the polls that they are not ready to remain the subjects of Mulayam Singh Yadav. In the process, the community that virtually sustained the Samajwadi Party in six successive elections in the state since 1993 explored new political options.

What has contributed to this change is the weakening of the threat of the BJP and the availability of options to deny power to the saffronites. No doubt, there is still fear among a section of the community that their interests may not be safe in Ms Mayawati’s abrasive hands. But there is also realisation that the BSP cannot do without the community’s backing.

The BSP in any case would not have bagged so many seats without significant contributions from Muslims. And Ms Mayawati will only like to build upon the process of co-opting Muslims.