As regards the formula of Sabka Saath, Sabka Viswas, and Sabka Vikas goes in the country, its relevance seems to dwindle in Gujarat. The ruling party feels odd in fielding Muslim candidates on assembly seats. Even the circumstances invite them to avoid electoral encounters. It is common to think that people need to mingle with others to have a good social life. Joining a political party remains one of many ways to meet people and keep connecting to the public. Most of us might think of it as a way to elect our political representatives.
When Muslims constitute about 11 per cent of the total state population of 6.5 crores, they can impact assembly polls in about 25 assembly seats. And it is also emphasised more often that there are assembly seats where Hindu-Muslim votes can bring wins. So why do political parties refrain from fielding Muslim candidates in the state elections? BJP has not been giving tickets to Muslims in Gujarat for the last several assembly elections. BJP had given ticket to only one Muslim candidate from 1980 till 1998. If we look at the proportion of Muslim population, then there should be at least 18 Muslim MLAs which never happened in the state. In year 1980, the maximum number of 12 Muslim MLAs were elected in Gujarat.
The Muslim voters once again have come to the straight attention of political parties in the state of Gujarat. Let the political parties be peculiarly honest, probably independently. Though the Muslim votes float in and out of the wily politicians’ heads now and then. Yet political parties like Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and of course the AIMIM have fielded their probable candidates. Will they help the election of more Muslim candidates or only dent in Congress votes? Issues
Sometimes they might otherwise be duly thinking, “Why do we give tickets to them? Are they being approached by our political parties? Why do they not be reliable, probably independent?” The Congress party-list has contained four Muslim candidates, including sitting MLA Mohammad Javed Peerzada from the Wankane seat, Mamdbhai Jang Jat from the Absada seat, Sullan Patel from Wagga & Aslam Cyclewala from the Surat East seat. While, the Aam Aadmi Party has cleared two respective names Sajid Rehan, (Jambusar), and Taj Quraishi ( Dariyapur).
Asaduddin Owaisi has been visiting Gujarat frequently to garner Muslim votes. His party declared it would contest 30 seats in Gujarat and has so far announced six candidates.
The Congress appointed its aner MLA Mohammad Pirzada as the working president of the party, in an attempt to woo the minority community. But AAP and AIMIM also stake their claims.
one Assembly seat of Jamalpur-Khadia where 65% of Muslims figure there are no other seats to be won without Hindu-Muslim support, as reported.
The Congress had won 77 seats in the 2017 Gujarat assembly elections, but the current MLA in its state is still 59. Many MLAs of the party have changed parties. In the 2017 elections, only three Muslim MLAs of the Congress party won. However, this was better than the year 2012 when there were only two MLAs.