Religious rhetoric and political strategies dominate Saharanpur Lok Sabha battle

Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha election 2024: The BJP is determined to reclaim lost ground after losing seven out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in western UP in 2019.

Congress candidate Imran Masood visited the Tripur Bala Sundari Devi Mandir to offer his respects, sparking a reaction from the Bajrang Dal, which questioned how a non-Hindu could enter the Siddh Peeth. This move strategically aimed to counter the BJP's slogan, "Jo Ram ko laaye hain, hum unhe laayenge" (Those who brought Ram, we will bring them), according to Masood.

"Who has brought Ram? BJP people?" he questioned. "Ram milenge Hanuman ji ke dil mein. Yeh desh Ram ka hai (You will find Ram in Hanuman’s heart, this country belongs to Lord Ram)," Masood remarked to Money Control after addressing an election rally in Chilkana, situated 35 kilometers from Saharanpur.

The transformation in Masood's stance is remarkable. In 2014, he gained notoriety for his controversial "boti-boti" comment targeting Narendra Modi. However, Masood now embraces the chant of "Ram Dhun" as he makes another bid to secure victory in the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat, this time as the candidate representing the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance.

In the electoral battleground of Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat, Muslim voters emerged as the pivotal factor, with the BJP and BSP engaged in a fierce tussle for supremacy. BSP's Fazlur Rehman's victory over BJP's Raghav Lakhanpal in the 2019 election by a margin of 22,427 votes underscores the significance of this demographic. Congress candidate Imran Masood, placed third in the previous election, also commands considerable influence with 2,07,068 votes to his credit.

As the election fervour reignites, familiar faces Raghav Lakhanpal and Imran Masood return to the fray, while the BSP introduces Majid Khan as its fresh contender, replacing sitting MP Fazlur Rehman.

BJP candidate Raghav Lakhanpal counters the claim that Muslims hold trump card in this constituency. He summarises through simple mathematics: “Around 7 lakh voters are Muslims and we have 19 lakh voters. If you subtract 6 lakh from 19 lakh, we are left with 12 lakh. So, the projection is wrong that Muslims hold sway in this constituency.”

The BJP is determined to reclaim lost ground after losing seven out of 14 Lok Sabha seats in western UP in 2019. Saharanpur is the key and therefore the party is harping on 7 lakh vs 12 lakh.

Before elections, BJP got a shot in the arm when a senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Minister in the governments of Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav, Sanjay Garg joined the BJP. He holds sway among the backwards and the Muslims.

Sabir Ali Khan, state vice president of the Milli Council, says the BJP is trying to play Hindu-Muslim card and emphasizes the pivotal role of Muslim voters in determining the outcome. With both BSP and Congress fielding Muslim candidates, any division in Muslim votes could potentially benefit the BJP, leveraging its stronghold among traditional voters.

INDIA Alliance

The INDIA alliance strategises to counter this scenario by targeting disgruntled voters among Dalits and other castes. Small meetings are organized to sway them towards the alliance's fold, mitigating the impact of potential vote division.

The Congress, aiming to bolster its prospects, plans Priyanka Gandhi's roadshow on April 16 to court voters. Imran Masood's challenge lies in appealing to both Hindu and Muslim voters, amidst dissatisfaction with BJP's politics of division.

Furthermore, the Congress seeks to attract traditional Thakur voters of the BJP who feel marginalized in ticket distribution. In their Thakur panchayat held in Nanauta town on April 7 they have declared that this time they will not vote for BJP. Congress is trying to bring them under its fld

BSP

BSP's vigorous efforts to retain the seat include party chief Mayawati's scheduled rally on April 14, coinciding with Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar's birth anniversary. Local residents anticipate Mayawati's rally to consolidate Dalit votes and influence Muslim voters in favor of Majid Ali.

Issues

Amid the intensifying Hindu-Muslim divide and the clamour over Hindu and Muslim votes, the genuine concerns of the populace are being overshadowed. Persistent issues such as unemployment, stray cattle menace, and unpaid cane dues continue to plague the region.

"BJP may excel on the international stage and manage inflation, but where are the jobs? Educated youth are left wandering," remarked Sachin Sharma, a resident of Saharanpur, highlighting the pressing need for employment opportunities.

Md Rashid, who operated a shop in Pratap Market, emphasized the complexity of taxation issues, stating, "Taxation remains a major concern. The government should streamline the GST process for the benefit of all."