With the different political parties trying to woo Muslim voters, will Karnataka see an increased number of candidates from the community in the fray in the 2023 assembly elections? At least the Muslim leaders in Karnataka Congress are hopeful of getting better representation (tickets) even as the grand old party braces for the competition from not just the JD(S), but also the SDPI, AIMIM, and AAP in wooing the minority voters.
“This time, we have received more than 100 applications (for tickets) from Muslim candidates, which will be scrutinised before the final list is submitted to the KPCC. Winnability of the candidates will be the main criterion,” said KPCC working president Salem Ahmed during a pressmeet held at the KPCC office on Tuesday.
“Around 12-17 Muslim candidates had been elected from the Congress party in the past (currently, there are seven legislators). We are confident that the number will increase this time,” said Saleem Ahmed.
Earlier in the day, around 55 Muslim leaders from the Congress, including former ministers U.T. Khader, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Tanveer Sait, MLA Naseer Ahmed, former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan and Saleem Ahmed, held a meeting, where it was decided to seek more tickets for the community, besides taking up the issue of alleged deletion of minority voters from the electoral rolls and holding community conventions to woo the voters.
Answering a question on the possible division of minority votes due to many parties trying to woo Muslim voters, Saleem Ahmed claimed that the voters were aware that the “real contest” would be between the BJP and the Congress. “The minority voters are wise. We are confident they will continue to support our party,” said Ahmed, adding that the party had planned five major conventions for minorities and backward classes in January.
On the deletion of the names of minority voters from electoral rolls, Ahmed said, “Deletion of names from the voter's list is a major conspiracy of the state government. The BJP is resorting to such tactics out of fear. We will try to address it (disenfranchisement) in the coming days. Our charges against chilume (data theft) has been proven right. In fact, such data theft from voter's list has taken place not just in Bengaluru but other districts too.”
On the possibility of a Muslim chief minister from the Congress, Ahmed said the issue was not discussed in the meeting and the community leaders would consider placing such demands before the party only after the Congress comes to power in the state.
“Our first priority is to bring the party to power and to dislodge the anti-people BJP government,” said Ahmed.