M-factor back in focus in state politics

The elevation of Choudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser to the post of state Congress chief has again brought into sharp focus the M (Muslim) factor in the state politics.

Political observers find it meaningful that the Congress has preferred a Muslim leader to lead the state unit in the assembly polls which is just a few months away. There is a thought that the party will be going all out to woo the Muslims who have largely remained with the RJD so far.

Qaiser refused to be drawn into a debate over the issue. “I would like to become a boon for the Congress rather than a disadvantage for any other political party,” he said.

However, if the Congress intends to revive itself in Bihar, it has to bring back its traditional vote bank together which consisted of dalits, upper castes and Muslims. While the last bypolls to the 18 seats of the state assembly indicated that at least a section of the upper caste had moved towards the party, the Muslims still largely prefer the RJD.

The RJD is putting up a brave face, though. “The Muslims are very conscious voters and known for tactical voting. In the last Lok Sabha polls, a section of Muslims voted for Congress to ensure the defeat of the BJP. But this led to a massive victory of the NDA. I am sure that the Muslims will solidly back us in the assembly polls because they know that the Congress does not have a social base here. Nobody is going to waste his vote just because they want Congress to regain strength here,” remarked senior RJD leader and the party’s Rajya Sabha candidate Ram Kripal Yadav.

However, the recent voting pattern should cause concern to the RJD-LJP alliance. During the last Lok Sabha polls, Muslims preferred the Congress wherever it had thrown into the ring prominent Muslim leaders. From the Muslim-dominated Kishanganj constituency, Congress candidate Maulana Asrarul Haque not only won but also pushed RJD candidate Mohd Taslimuddin to the third position. In Madhubani, RJD candidate and senior leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui lost because most Muslim voters opted for Congress candidate Dr Shakeel Ahmad. Choudhary Mehboob Ali Qaiser himself contested from Khagaria parliamentary seat and finished second pushing the RJD candidate to third position.

Electioneering during the last Lok Sabha polls saw a bitter war of words between RJD chief Lalu Prasad and Congress leaders over the demolition of Babri Masjid. With assembly polls drawing closer, the RJD chief has been attacking the Congress for its failure to implement the recommendations of the Ranganath Commission and Sachar Committee. With Qaiser heading the Congress in Bihar, Lalu may have to sharpen his attack on the party again.