New Delhi: Samajwadi Party's veteran ‘Muslim face’ Azam Khan reiterated that the ongoing family feud in the Yadav household will not impact community votes, but a slew of analysts News18 spoke to hinted the chaos could eventually brighten the prospects of arch-rival BSP that's been trying to cobble a Dalit-Muslim alliance in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
In an interview to News 18, the minister said, “Muslim community knows that it is a small family problem, and any split of their votes will benefit BJP. Muslims will not let any party that wants to harm them come to power. Muslims are too attached to Samajwadi Party to be able to desert it.”
“There has been no decision taken by the community leaders or voters at this time of family feud. Everyone is waiting for things to get better. Muslims have other things to do than think about polls and what party to vote for.”
Samajwadi Party has been the first preference for Muslim voters, so much so that party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav won for himself the sobriquet “Maulana Mulayam”. But, now, when the party is presenting a divided stand with “exits”, “sackings” and “splits” marked by tears and family drama there is renewed interest in what is the preference of Muslim voters in UP election 2017.
In fact after the storm settles down SP has an uphill task ahead – it has to work on convincing their 18% Muslim voters that despite the family feud the party can effectively combat BJP. “The chief concern of the Muslim voter has been to stop BJP. If the Muslims find SP cannot effectively combat BJP it will certainly benefit BSP, and Congress is nowhere here,” said Sudhir Panwar, political commentator who is also a member of Akhilesh Yadav government’s planning board.
Community leaders, ministers and political experts are waiting for the dramatic dust to settle down. Panwar said, “Everybody is confused – both the supporters of SP and Muslims.”
If SP split happens, Shia cleric Kalbe Jawad said Muslims will stand with Mulayam. He said, “Akhilesh Yadav government did not do anything for Muslims, even general public did not gain much from his leadership. If the party heads for a split, Muslims will go with Mulayam Singh Yadav – he is more popular among Muslims than his son.”
Khan, however, said: “There will be no split in the party – cycle thi aur rahegi…” His words might come as a relief to the Muslim community leadership in the state, which is keenly keeping an eye of “the house in disorder”.
The concerns of split are pricking community leaders, as Rasheed said, “The split will not be good, as the vote bank is the same, it will lead to multi-divisional votes – both father and son will lose here. This matter of showing a united stand is important if they want to avoid any further split of votes.”
One way to avoid any kind of worsening of situation in SP, the cleric routed for “strict disciplinary action against those who are undermining the authority of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav”.
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