The only BJP candidate Fatima Rasool Siddiqui pitted from Bhopal North constituency is facing tough fight against the well-known five-term Congress legislator Arif Aqeel.

The voters in the constituency say that they have never heard her name unless the BJP has nominated her from Bhopal North. The BJP workers too in the constituency are surprised with the candidature of Fatima, as her father Rasool Ahmed Siddiqui was a senior Congress leader.

A grocery shop owner in Bhopal talkies area told that he has never seen the BJP candidate and thus she is not important for him. “She may get some Muslim votes, but most people will vote for Aqeel,” he added.

Aqeel is known for his works for the people of his constituency. People know him with his gesture that he goes with anybody on the scooter, within no time, when needed.

Aqeel is credited with establishing the Arif Nagar, a locality next to the Union Carbide factory after the 1984 gas leak tragedy. Victims of the gas leak and their kin were settled in the area, which also has a stadium. Many Hindus living in the Chhola area adjacent to this colony also praise Aqeel for his contribution to public welfare.

Sunil Begwani, a resident in his constituency said that he has never seen Aqeel differentiating between Hindu and Muslim; He is available for everybody when needed.

On the other hand, the BJP leaders are still facing a difficult question- as why daughter of a Congress leader has been fielded from the constituency, despite the fact that there were several party workers who had been demanding tickets from there.