Congress candidate Imran Masood’s recent visit to the Tripur Bala Sundari Devi temple has sparked heated debates surrounding religion and politics in the Saharanpur Lok Sabha contest.
Masood’s decision to visit the temple drew sharp criticism from the Bajrang Dal, which questioned the involvement of a non-Hindu in religious affairs. However, Masood defended his action as a strategic response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s frequent references to Lord Ram in their campaign speeches.
This move marks a significant departure from Masood’s past controversies, notably his infamous ‘boti-boti’ remark targeting Narendra Modi in 2014. Now, aligned with the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance, Masood is leveraging the symbolism of Ram to connect with the voters in Saharanpur.
In this fiercely contested electoral battleground, the Muslim electorate wields considerable influence, as demonstrated by the intense competition between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party. The victory of BSP’s Fazlur Rehman over BJP’s Raghav Lakhanpal in the 2019 election underscores the pivotal role of this demographic. Masood’s substantial vote share in the previous election further solidifies the significance of the Muslim electorate.
As the competition escalates, established contenders like Lakhanpal and Masood vie for supremacy, while the BSP has introduced Majid Khan as a fresh face. Lakhanpal dismisses assertions of Muslim dominance in the constituency, emphasising a nuanced understanding of electoral demographics.
For the BJP, reclaiming lost ground in western Uttar Pradesh is of utmost importance. Saharanpur’s strategic significance is evident in the party’s efforts to consolidate its traditional support bases amidst shifting alliances and defections.
The recent inclusion of senior SP leader Sanjay Garg into the BJP fold signals a concerted attempt to sway backward and Muslim voters. Sabir Ali Khan of the Milli Council highlights the BJP’s strategy to exploit Hindu-Muslim fault lines, capitalising on the presence of Muslim candidates in the BSP and Congress camps.
Amidst these intricate dynamics, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) strategically targets disillusioned Dalit and caste-based voters to counter potential divisions. The Congress, buoyed by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s upcoming roadshow, seeks to bridge communal divides while appealing to traditional BJP voters disenchanted with ticket distribution.
Meanwhile, BSP supremo Mayawati rallies support with an eye on consolidating Dalit and Muslim votes, symbolically aligning with Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary.
However, amidst the whirlwind of religious narratives and electoral manoeuvers, pressing issues such as unemployment and taxation woes are relegated to the sidelines. Residents like Sachin Sharma and Mohammad Rashid voice concerns over job scarcity and complex tax systems, urging political leaders to prioritise grassroots challenges.
In the midst of the clamour surrounding religious posturing and political strategies, the electorate of Saharanpur grapples with urgent issues, emphasising the necessity for substantive political discourse beyond mere symbolism.
