Bulandshahr (UP): While Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh claims that the affinity with rebel BJP leader Kalyan Singh would not adversely affect his goodwill with Muslims, many from the community in Uttar Pradesh still consider Kalyan Singh as the one who headed the Ayodhya temple movement, culminating in the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992.
Bulandshahr, a western UP town and the political citadel of Kalyan Singh, has a large Muslim population and his alliance with Mulayam Singh followed by his apology for Babri demolition is a hot topic here.
“For us, Kalyan Singh is the villain of 1992, anyone who joins him will not get our support,” says one of the residents, Mohd Anees.
Muslims constitute almost one-fifth of Uttar Pradesh’s total electorate, and the fate of the 80 Parliamentarians from the state is often decided in the narrow bylanes of towns like Bulandshahr.
Going by the present mood, Mulayam Singh may not be their favorite poster boy this time around.
“Mulayam will definitely pay for this, BSP and Congress will benefit from this,” says another resident.
Ever since 1992, in one election after another, Muslims of Bulandshahr - like many in their community across Uttar Pradesh - have voted often for the Samajwadi Party.
So the news of Mulayam sIngh Yadavn joining hands with Kalyan Singh has almost come as shock to them.
But why was this alliance needed, they ask. It’s a question many Kalyan Singh supporters are finding it difficult to answer.
In Debai area of Bulandshahr - which is a stronghold of Kalyan Singh's Lodh Rajput community - there are many more who see the alliance as an act of betrayal.
“So many Hindus and Muslims had died in that campaign, now these leaders go ahead with such an alliance,” says a resident, Lajpat Rai
Perhaps one reason why the two former Chief Ministers have put up this joint effort is the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party.
The BSP even defeated Kalyan Singh’s son in Debai in the last Assembly election. But will this alliance turn the tide?
“After getting so many Hindus and Muslims killed, they are forming alliances? No guarantee that that we will vote for Kalyan Singh,” says a resident.
With just over two months to go for the General Elections, the two leaders have a long way to go in convincing their respective support base.
Comments
0 comment