Young Muslims vote for change, development

IN THE SLUM POCKETS OF KISMAT NAGAR AND NASIBULLAH COMPOUND, THE REAL FIGHT IS ONLY BETWEEN THE SHIV SENA AND THE CONGRESS

MUMBAI: From Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Majlis-eittehadul-muslimeen (MIM), city Muslims had a wide range of options to choose from, as they cast their votes on Wednesday.

Most from the older generation claimed they have stuck to the “secular national party”. “Irrespective of whether they work or not, I have always voted for the Congress,” said Husain Kalaiwala, 73, from Mumbadevi area in Colaba constituency.

“The AIMIM is trying to polarise voters, similar to what the Shiv Sena and Samajwadi Party did in the past. While some may applaud them, their presence will not affect the Congress,” said Wasim Azmi, 73, a voter from the Muslim-dominated Kalina.

Youngsters, however, seemed in favour of the saffron parties. In Tulsiwadi near Tardeo, for instance, Sena’s Arvind Dudhwadkar is termed the go-to person. “The Sena candidate has worked for us,” said Haider Pathan, 22, a first-time voter, whose family also voted for the Sena. “I am a fan of Akbaruddin Owaisi. I voted for the MIM because I feel their focus is on upliftment of Muslims,” said Khurram Shaikh, a second year commerce student from Mumbadevi.

In the slum pockets of Kismat Nagar, Shivaji Kutir Mandal and Nasibullah compound, the real fight is only between the Congress and the Shiv Sena “The others are not well-known We want Kripashankar Singh to win again,” said Khan.

For Muslim households in Bandra, BJP’S performance so far has been the decisive factor.

“We voted for the BJP because PM Modi’s performance has been commendable,” said Hunaid Ahmed, 42, a banker from Bandra. In complete con trast, Noor Mohammad Khan a local from Malwani, said “Nothing has changed for the better from the time Modi came to power. I voted for a secular party.”