UP elections: BSP woos Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, gets backing of clerics

In the wake of a stiff challenge posed by SP-Congress alliance, BSP has come up with the plan to get Muslim leadership and clergy to extend support to woo minorities

Sangita Bakaya
Updated13 Feb 2017, 01:20 AM IST
BSP chief Mayawati has been concertedly telling the minorities that voting for the SP-Congress alliance will go in vain and it will help BJP. Photo: Reuters
BSP chief Mayawati has been concertedly telling the minorities that voting for the SP-Congress alliance will go in vain and it will help BJP. Photo: Reuters

Lucknow: Failing to revive its tested “social engineering” formula which saw it victorious in the 2007 Uttar Pradesh polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is going all out to woo Muslims through various clerics and organisations for regaining power.

In 2007, BSP had notched up the magic mark all by itself riding on social engineering which helped it garner support of other sections of society as well besides its core vote bank among the Dalits. This time, however, in the wake of a stiff challenge posed by Samajwadi Party (SP)-Congress alliance, which has presented a viable alternative both to Muslims and backwards, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is banking on polarisation to gain support of Hindus, especially upper castes, BSP has come up with the plan to get Muslim leadership and clergy to extend support to woo minorities.

Also Read | UP manifestos: Sops to farmers stay put, tech makes inroads

In the past couple of days, BSP leadership has been successful in roping in Rashtriya Ulema Council led by Maulana Aamir Rashadi Madani, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Ahmed Bukhari, noted Shia cleric and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Kalbe Jawwad and Ulema and Mashiakh Board of Maulana Syed Mohammad Ashraf Kichachauvi as well as AMU Students Union to extend support for sending a message among the Muslims.

BSP chief Mayawati has been concertedly telling the minorities that voting for the SP-Congress alliance will go in vain and it will willy-nilly help BJP. “BSP is the only viable alternative before Muslims as it alone can check BJP... SP is a divided house and both Akhilesh and Shivpal factions will harm each other in the polls and so voting for the SP-Congress alliance will only help BJP,” has been her refrain during her campaign.

But since Muslims have a pattern of voting for the party which is strongest to defeat BJP, SP-Congress alliance has given hope to them much to the discomfiture of BSP. After having fielded 99 Muslim candidates — a record high for the party — and basing its gameplan to a large extent on the Dalit-Muslim plank, BSP does not want to leave anything to chance and so it has been working overtime to win over Muslim leaders and clerics, analysts say. PTI

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.

MoreLess
First Published:13 Feb 2017, 01:20 AM IST
Business NewsPoliticsPolicyUP elections: BSP woos Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, gets backing of clerics

Get Instant Loan up to ₹10 Lakh!

  • Employment Type

    Most Active Stocks

    Tata Motors share price

    820.75
    01:10 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    15.05 (1.87%)

    Tata Steel share price

    145.55
    01:10 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -2 (-1.36%)

    Ashok Leyland share price

    225.15
    01:10 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    3.15 (1.42%)

    State Bank Of India share price

    850.50
    01:10 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    7.25 (0.86%)
    More Active Stocks

    Market Snapshot

    • Top Gainers
    • Top Losers
    • 52 Week High

    Wipro share price

    577.05
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    8.2 (1.44%)

    Federal Bank share price

    206.80
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    0.05 (0.02%)

    Indian Hotels Company share price

    729.25
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -3.8 (-0.52%)

    Page Industries share price

    47,529.25
    12:52 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -458.55 (-0.96%)
    More from 52 Week High

    Asian Paints share price

    2,550.30
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -218.95 (-7.91%)

    CE Info Systems share price

    1,899.00
    12:56 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -156.8 (-7.63%)

    Aarti Industries share price

    440.00
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -34.75 (-7.32%)

    Tube Investments Of India share price

    3,650.25
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    -235.3 (-6.06%)
    More from Top Losers

    Power Finance Corp share price

    484.20
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    34.75 (7.73%)

    Biocon share price

    342.95
    12:56 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    21.7 (6.75%)

    Devyani International share price

    179.00
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    8.25 (4.83%)

    Swan Energy share price

    545.40
    12:57 PM | 11 NOV 2024
    24.05 (4.61%)
    More from Top Gainers

    Recommended For You

      More Recommendations

      Gold Prices

      • 24K
      • 22K
      Bangalore
      78,775.00-600.00
      Chennai
      78,781.00-600.00
      Delhi
      78,933.00-600.00
      Kolkata
      78,785.00-600.00

      Fuel Price

      • Petrol
      • Diesel
      Bangalore
      102.92/L0.00
      Chennai
      100.80/L0.00
      Kolkata
      104.95/L0.00
      New Delhi
      94.77/L0.00

      Popular in Politics

        HomeMarketsPremiumInstant LoanMint Shorts