In Malegaon, some things change, some don’t

The man who went around the assembly seat on a bicycle in 2009 and whose electoral funding depended on Rs 5 or Rs 10 notes from textile mill workers now sports the latest smartphone and has a bevy of vehicles outside his house.

Mufti also has one of the worst attendance records in the assembly, at 77 of 225 days. He acknowledges he has failed but adds he could not do much as he was initially not part of the ruling combine. He says this was one of the reasons he jumped from Jan Surajya Party, on whose ticket he was elected, to the NCP. “It is going to be a tough fight. People are angry. You cannot satisfy 100 per cent of the people but the fact that I was not part of the ruling combine severely affected my ability to work,” says Mufti.

Many local residents complain that Mufti failed to highlight the issues of Malegaon and was more concerned about his own well-being.
A spate of terror attacks has thrust the textile town into national consciousness as a backward area with an angry minority community. The stereotypical view, however, falls apart when seen in the light of statistics. The town’s literacy rate of over 85 per cent is higher than the national average of 68 and way better than the national Muslim literacy rate of 59.1 per cent.

What is, however, lacking is urban infrastructure and educational institutes. Local children consistently top the state board exams but are forced to leave the town for higher education. “The town has huge potential, but it has lacked leaders who would raise their voice in front of the government,” says Mohammed Zahid, a mill worker.

Politicians who have protested against the state’s perceived injustice to the town are facing hostility from Muslim leaders of their own party.

Sources said Congress candidate Shaikh Asif is no different. Son of former MLA Shaikh Rashid, Asif led a march from Malegaon to Mumbai to demand reservation for the community in 2012. The march brought him into the limelight but senior Muslim leaders from the Congress were apparently not keen on nominating him. “Senior leaders don’t want new leaders to emerge. This attitude has pushed Muslims back in the state,” says Aijaz Ansari of Malegaon.

Asif, however, claims the party is backing him. “The town has stagnated and needs development. We have the potential of making politicians who will lead not only Malegaon but the Muslim community across the state.”

The Malegaon voter shows little hope. “Earlier Malegaon crackled with excitement during election season. This time, you would not even know elections are coming,” says Sabir Khan, a restaurant owner.