In the recent Parliamentary elections, the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance did not field a single candidate from the Muslim community in Maharashtra. This tri-party coalition, comprising Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and the Congress, performed well against the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
However, despite their success, the MVA had entirely overlooked Muslim leadership in the general elections.
To prevent a repeat of this “oversight” in the upcoming state assembly elections, likely to be held later this year, the ‘Secularwadi Muslim Front’ – a coalition of various religious, social, and political representatives from the Muslim community across the state – has opened a dialogue with the MVA and any party willing to listen to the community’s demands for representation proportionate to their population in the state.
As part of this outreach program, both within the community and with political leaders across party lines, the Front has planned a march starting on August 30 from Kolhapur. Afroz Mulla, a practicing lawyer and convener of the initiative, told The Wire that the need for this dialogue arose after the general elections.
“The MVA rose up as an alternative to the divisive politics of the current dispensation. However, the [Muslim] community didn’t find any representation. We are looked at merely as a vote bank,” Mulla said. Through this initiative, he hopes to open a dialogue with various parties to secure an adequate number of Muslim representatives.
‘Muslim vote deciding factor in over 60 Assembly constituencies’
According to the last available Census data from 2011, the Muslim population in Maharashtra stands close to 12 per cent of the total population. In nine out of the state’s 36 districts, the population is over 15 per cent. Mulla says the team has identified over 60 assembly constituencies where the community plays a crucial role in deciding the winning candidate.
“If the community holds that power, why isn’t it given a respectful position of leadership too?” Mulla asks.
A press conference of the Secularwadi Muslim Front. Photo: By special arrangement
Among the constituencies where Muslims constitute a significant voting base are Byculla, Kurla, Chandivali, Bandra East, Bandra West, Dharavi, Malad West, Hadapsar, Pune Cantonment, Vadgaon Sheri, Kasba, Pimpri, Kolhapur Uttar, Hatkanangale, Ichalkaranji, Shirol, Sangli (City), Miraj, Malegaon, Solapur City South, Solapur North, Osmanabad, Aurangabad East, Aurangabad West, Aurangabad Central and Sillod.
Other such constituencies include Vaijapur, Jalna, Parbhani, Nanded South, Nanded North, Hingoli, Beed, Latur City, Latur Rural, Osmanabad, Akola Paschim, Akot, Washim, Karanja, Khamgaon, Kalina, Malkapur, Jalgaon-Jamod, Buldhana, Amravati, Achalpur, Malegaon Central, Dhule City, Jalgaon City, Bhusawal, Ahmednagar City, Mumbra-Kalwa, Bhiwandi, Govandi, and Anushaktinagar.
Mulla, however, clarifies that the collective isn’t asking for representation only in these constituencies. “We don’t see our leadership as restricted to one religion. We would rather have Muslim candidates chosen from other constituencies with mixed populations,” he says.
‘Community ignored despite significant electoral influence’
Despite the community’s significant electoral influence, Mulla points out that election after election, the community continues to receive a “raw deal” from parties claiming to have “secular credentials.”
The conversation, Mufti Sayyed Wasim Kasmi emphasises, is not limited to the MVA but extends to anyone “who is willing to listen and reflect on the demands we are making.” Kasmi is also a convener of the secular collective launched across Maharashtra.
As the march progresses from Kolhapur and passes through eight districts over eight days, political leaders, youth, and concerned citizens from across party lines will be invited to participate. The route, Mufti explains, was planned organically as volunteers from these districts expressed interest in joining the march.
Fazal Mujawar, a working professional from Kolhapur district, is one such youth. Mujawar, who became actively involved in rehabilitation efforts following communal violence in Kolhapur two months ago, says he hopes to see more youth participating in electoral politics. Over the past months, he and others have worked to unite the youth of Kolhapur.
“We are trying to understand the community’s anxieties and insecurities, their aspirations and demands. Giving adequate representation to the community in electoral politics is the only way to have them both heard and bring about policy-level changes,” he believes.
Similarly, in Pune, lawyer Sufiya Shaikh says she and her team have been actively engaging with community representatives. Shaikh adds that deliberate efforts are also being made to involve more women in the collective.
The collective organised a press conference in Mumbai last week. This conference, Mulla says, was held after invites were sent to different party leaders.
“We are yet to hear from them, but we are optimistic about the outcome,” he added.
