MIM is all set to give some advantage to the BJP in the Assembly elections for UP. While the BJP is expected to get the votes that it is concentrating on, the muslim vote is bound to split as there will be more than 2 Muslim candidates in the constituencies where ever Mayavathis BSP is contesting.
It is more the merrier for the BJP as whenever the saffron party is challenged by a number of Muslim rivals, a split in votes on communal lines helps turn the tide for its candidates in UP.
Going by the past record, BJP was the major beneficiary of division of minority votes and polarisation during polls.
While BSP has given ticket to 99 Muslims, SP-Congress are claiming to be the real “sympathiser” of the community to seek their votes. Besides, AIMIM has also fielded its candidates at a few seats.
In 2012 polls, there were at least 26 seats where Muslim candiates lost due to division of votes due to fight between them.The split in votes can become a major advantage for the Muslim candidates here.
Among these seats, there were many where the margin of victory was very thin.More over the alliance with the congress party will prove very costly for the SP and Akhilesh.
More than 100 seats are with the Congress party and they may win very few seats as things stand. More than 40 percent of the electorate in UP are still undecided. They might decide on the last day or just while voting.
Similar is the situation in Loni seat in Ghaziabad, where BSP’s sitting MLA Zakir Ali has locked horns with Rashid Malik (SP), while RLD has given ticket to Madan Bhaiya. BJP has fielded Nand Kishore Gurjar.
In seats like Badaun, Kanpur Cant, Khalilabad, Lucknow (West) situation is same with Muslim candidates challenging each other giving advantage to rival political parties.
