Saharanpur residents feel Muslim votes crucial but won't say who they will elect

Rameez rises early. By 7 am, he is near the popular Clock Tower in central Saharanpur, waiting for people to hire his rickshaw. The Tower area is a busy place with a diverse group of visitors, who have just enough time to amuse themselves with a discussion on politics.

Kulsoom is a final-year student at a college in the western Uttar Pradesh city. She says the discussion at her home these days is only about politics.

And Pankaj owns a grocery store on Abdul Salam Road, the epicentre of the famed handmade wooden craft of Saharanpur. He, too, interacts with people from diverse backgrounds with varied interests at his shop.

All three said they are yet unsure who to vote for this election. Or, they want to keep their decision to themselves.

An interesting three-way contest is underway in Saharanpur, a city of 17.22 lakh voters, of which 6 lakh are Muslims.

Two strong Muslim candidates - Imran Masood (Congress) and Faizul Rehman (BSP) - are into the fray against the sitting BJP lawmaker, Raghav Lakhan Pal.

The name Rameez in Urdu means "level-headed".

But, standing near the Clock Tower, he said he is in a fix about who to vote for on April 11, when the Lok Sabha election will be held in the constituency.

"Imran Masood is a good leader. He should be given a chance. But I know all Harijan votes would go to Faizul Rehman and I really want BJP to lose. So I am unable to make up my mind who to vote for," Rameez said.

Saharanpur residents believe the BJP has an edge over its rivals because of a possible split in Muslim votes, a deciding factor in the city. The BJP here has historically benefited from Jat votes, which has remained largely intact behind the party over the years.

There are around three lakh SC/ST voters followed by 1.5 lakh Gujjars. Punjabis and Sikhs are around 1.45 lakh.

Kulsoom has a different set of demands. She wants a strong leader to lead Saharanpur and a university which would improve her prospects to become a teacher.

"I want a strong leader who could stand up for the rights of Muslims. But I am unable to decide who to vote for," she said. "A long, passionate discussion takes place in my home on this every evening."
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