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Can Owaisi, with his religious politics, make inroads in UP?

Analysts say the AIMIM chief's impact will be limited on larger population

Asaduddin Owaisi | PTI Asaduddin Owaisi | PTI

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stoked some more religious feelings on Wednesday in Barabanki where permission for a public meeting came after some suspense. 

Owaisi reminded his audience of an ancient mosque in Barabanki that had been demolished on May 17, 2021 despite a high court order that the status quo of religious places was to be maintained in view of the pandemic. 

“Who spoke against it? Did the SP and the BSP try to stop the demolition? The administration should know that whoever uses waqf property also becomes waqf. However, without any notice the mosque was sacrificed”, he said. 

In his visit to the state, Owaisi has stuck to certain themes. The first and most obvious of which is around religious structures. When announcing the visit to the state, he had said that had the Babri Masjid not been demolished the decision (of the Supreme court in the Title suit) would have been different. 

Owaisi is not saying anything new. It is a line he has maintained ever since the SC decision came out. He was merely reiterating it as background to his UP visit

Owaisi's UP visit has included a stop at Raunahi (Ayodhya) only because it has a sizeable Muslim population. It is the media which has projected it as a visit to Ayodhya with ulterior motives. 

Irshad Ilmi, senior political commentator said, “The Ayodhya issue is old. There is no fresh emotion attached to it. It is unlikely to be important during this election”. 

Ilmi said that the clearly speaking, articulate and forceful Owaisi did impress a certain section of the Muslim population. But probably only a section that is not too interested in politics.  

On the larger population, his impact will be limited. It could perhaps be limited to areas where there is a disenchantment with the usual leaders that Muslims have voted for. 

Jeelani Khan, resident editor of the Inquilab newspaper said that visits to places of religious significance should not be seen as something new in Indian politics. 

“Till not so long ago both Hindu and Muslim leaders would go to dargahs and temples; and interact with holy men of all kinds. It is only now that they are shunning the religious places of each other”, said Khan. 

For now political analysts are unconvinced that Owaisi will replicate the success of Bihar in UP. The Bihar success is attributed in some measure to the absence of Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

Owaisi’s Hyderabadi connection influences his politics in a big way. Thus, he is bound to give his nod to sufism wherever it exists—it does in Barabanki. His father was a founder member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, a legacy Owaisi carries forth in the political sphere. 

His earlier visit to Azamgarh must be viewed in connection with his goal to make an inroad into Muslim politics through the Purvanchal. It is a district any politician, looking to scoop the four to five seats which are decided by the Muslim vote in the region, would have visited. 

Owaisi is an outsider to UP politics. He draws a certain respect—his name being preceded by Janab and Barristar on publicity material. But will this translate into votes is a question that cannot just be answered.

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