Now just before one week of declaration of election schedule, the position of all parties is clear. It is therefore easy for voter to make their choices and they must decide it as early as possible. In southern states of Tamilnadu, Kerala , Andhra pradesh , Telengana and Karnataka the choice is between All India Congress party alliance with a regional party and the other regional party. BJP has minimal presence here except in Karnataka. Therefore secular votes will and must support the congress alliance except in Kerala where both LDF and UDF are anti BJP. In Andhra there is likely a three parties contest with alliances and congress party is weak here but still it must be supported.
In north India the RLD in UP and JDU in Bihar have traditionally getting support from Muslims and other secular Hindus . Now is a time when the secular votes must not go to them Muslims must abandon these parties as they have the most opportunist leaders. In Madhya Pradesh , Rajasthan, and chattisgarh there is no confusion here the contest is between congress party and BJP. Same is the position in Gujrat.
The most crucial states ae West Bengal and Maharashtra. These states have more than 80 seats. In west Bengal TMC of Mamta Bannerji has traditionally been getting majority of Muslim votes. However this Muslims must think otherwise. Mamta Banerji because fear of ED has softened her attitude towards BJP. She may not join the opposition parties opposing BJP after the election. It is therefore prudent to not remain attached to her party. In Maharshtra the position is clear but there is always a question mark about Sharad Pawar.
Now in this election there are two leaders who can spoil the consolidation of Muslim Votes. Mayavati can spoil it in few places but can have much effect in Uttar Pradeh. The Asaduddin Owaisi can not create major division Muslim votes but enough to spoil the chances of secular parties specially congress party. His campaign has always been against congress party .
This is the last chance for Muslims to forget the past and clearly support the congress party. They have to forget about Mayawati, Owaisi. Nitish Kumar, Mamta Bannerji and Jayant Chaudhry.
Mukhtar Ahmad is Former professor of Electrical Engineering AMU Aligarh
