Akhilesh to address back-to-back rallies to woo Rohilkhand Muslims

BAREILLY: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is set to address back-to-back political rallies in Bareilly and Aonla on Wednesday in a bid to try and strike a chord with a drifting Muslim vote base.
The communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar last year and the recent tussle between Madari and Rzavi sects of the minority community in Bareilly have apparently shifted the Muslim vote to Samajwadi Party's arch rival Bahujan Samaj Party.Akhilesh is expected to go that extra mile in Bareilly as the city has 5.50 lakh Muslim voters who can turn around the fortune of any political party. The necessity to undertake such an exercise has arisen in the wake of desertions by Barelvi clerics including Maulana Tauqir Raza and Maulana Taslim Raza Khan who have publicly pledged support to SP's traditional rival BSP.
"The house of Ala Hazrat led by Nazire-Ala, Maulana Tauqir Raza and Maulana Tasleem Raza have always remained traditional supporters of the Samajwadi Party. But this time around, they have switched over to BSP. This has rattled the SP leadership," political observer Nadeem Qureshi said.
He added that the disenchantment of the Muslim community with SP post the Muzaffarnagar riots has been further enhanced by the decision of the two clerics. Moreover, the fragmentation of votes from other communities, including SCs and STs, has forced SP to pin hopes on Muslims who have traditionally voted for Mulayam.
Talking to TOI, Maulana Tauqir Raza said, "UP Muslims have decided to make the SP leaders realize the mistake of playing fence sitters during Muzaffarnagar riots. Moreover, it was shocking to see that when men, women and newborns were dying due to cold in relief camps, SP supremo was immersed in festivities at Saifai Mahotsav."
He added that their stand will remain unchanged at least for the Lok Sabha elections and support to SP in future will depend upon commitments made for the welfare of Muslim community and promises of providing speedy justice to victims of Muzaffarnagar riots.
However, Bareilly mayor and senior SP leader I S Tomar said, "Gone are the days when Muslim votes were decided as per the diktats of a particular person. Today, voters chose the party on the basis of their own judgment. Our traditional voters are firmly behind us and we are sure that Akhileshji's visit will boost the party's prospects in Bareilly and Aonla."