Muslims reject candidates backed by clerics

LUCKNOW: Giving a clear indication that they would no longer blindingly follow diktats of religious leaders, in this civic poll, voters rejected candidates propelled by two Muslim clerics in the Old City . The electorate chose independent candidates instead.

In Kashmiri Mohalla (103), Maulana Kalbe Abid (II) (110) and Ambarganj (97 ) wards in the Old City, voters gave the thumbs down to candidates supported by two religious leaders of the Muslim community.

The Kashmiri Mohalla ward has a predominately Shia Muslim majority. Outgoing corporator from this ward was Saima Laiq of Samajwadi Party. In 2012 civic polls this ward was reserved for women candidates.

In 2017 civic polls, the Kashmiri Mohalla seat was made general and Laiq Agha, Saima’s husband, was an independent candidate. However, a Shia cleric openly supported Meesam Rizvi, who also contested as an independent candidate. Seeking support for Rizvi, the cleric had also apprised electorate of the Kashmiri Mohalla ward that he was supporting the candidate after ‘iftikhara’ (seeking guidance from Allah) . Still the voters preferred Laiq Agha, who secured 1702 votes and won the seat .

The same story unfolded in Maulana Kalbe Abid (II) ward (110). Here Samajwadi Party candidate Mohammad Iqbal, who had the support of a renowned Sunni cleric, had to face defeat. The electorate preferred independent candidate Ifam Ullah alias Babu Hakim, who secured 3738 votes.

Ifam Ullah was outgoing Samajwadi Party corporator. But when Samajwadi Party denied him the ticket in this civic poll, he contested as an independent candidate.

It was no different in Amberganj ward. Outgoing corporator in this ward was Mohammad Ahsan of Samajwadi Party. However, in this civic poll the seat was reserved for women candidates.

Noor Afsa, wife of Mohammad Ahsan, an independent candidate, won the election, as voters rejected the candidate supported by a renowned Sunni cleric. Afsa contested as an independent candidate after the Samajawadi Party denied her ticket.

With BJP coming to power in the state, Muslim clerics are also changing political loyalties.

A renowned cleric, who was close to the Bahujan Samaj Party government (2007 -2012) switched his loyalties to the Samajwadi Party when it came to power after the 2012 assembly polls . He was close to former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Now, after change of government in the state and BJP coming to power, the same cleric is trying to make inroads in the BJP after getting close to deputy CM Dinesh Sharma.