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 The 120-million-strong Muslim community has once again become a much-wooed political entity. Political parties are bringing out their secularist props to attract Muslim votes in their favour and bring them in large numbers to the hustings.
More important is the fact that contrary to the popular notion, Muslims do not vote en-masse for a political party. Perhaps it is this tactical voting that has made political parties use Muslims as a votebank by playing the card of pseudo-secularism and minority appeasement.
Past surveys have shown that over the last few years, the Muslims by and large, had remained polarised in favour of Mulayam’s Samajwadi Party. Year 2007 saw the BSP making inroads into the Muslim votebank.
The fear of BJP and its Hindu rhetoric often became a tool for parties to play on the insecurities of the Muslims.
So, will development issues take precedence over political ideology and religious affiliations? This election, which way will the Muslim vote swing? Join us on The Big Fight for a debate on the Muslim Vote on NDTV 24x7.
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