Lucknow, In a bid to enhance its Muslim outreach strategy, the Uttar Pradesh Congress’s minority cell has penned letters to approximately a thousand ‘ulemas’ across 60 districts of the state, urging them to comprehend the significance of their votes and advocate for strategic voting.
Shahnawaz Alam, Chairman of the Muslim wing, expressed concern that the community’s lackadaisical approach towards politics might contribute to the BJP’s potential return to power. He emphasized that the conventional approach of voting solely to defeat the BJP has proven counterproductive for the Muslim community, rendering them as negative voters.
Alam pointed out that other smaller communities, by contrast, strategically vote to ensure the victory of their preferred candidates or parties, placing them in a stronger negotiating position. He lamented that despite being 20% in population, Muslims often lack adequate representation in government leadership, as constituencies dominated by them are reserved for Dalits and women.
In an attempt to shift this dynamic, Alam urged Muslims to become ‘positive voters’ once again, emphasizing that the Congress, historically, has been the party to provide Muslim chief ministers in India. He encouraged the community to actively participate in the government rather than merely voting to oppose the BJP.
The letter also hinted at forthcoming communications, including case studies from the 2014, 2017, and 2022 elections, to reinforce the argument for a strategic and positive voting approach.
Stay tuned for updates on the response to Congress’s appeal and its impact on the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.
