NEW DELHI: Signs of drift among their traditional Muslim Supporters in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are giving anxious moments to the Congress strategy planners and the countdown for crucial Assembly elections in the two states has begun.
In Kamataka, Congressmen are worried that the recent Urdu bulletin fiasco might undo the credibility the Mostly Government had managed to acquire through tough handling of the Hubli flag hoisting episode.
The creation of the government sponsored Ayodhya temple trust on the eve of elections has also given wrong signals to the Muslims, concedes former Kamataka minister, G.M. Ibrahim, ““The Urdu bulletin fiasco, too gives the impression that the Congress is not concerned about the sentiments of the minorities, but takes their support for granted,” Ibrahim adds. Tbrahim’s associates say that Owaisi, a member of the All India Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMC), has decided to oppose the Congress in the wake of formation of the Ramalaya trust. According to them, the Congress has made a “silent pact” with Shankaracharyas to build a temple at the disputed structure in Ayodhya. Even a marginal shift in the Muslim support base, specially to the TDP in Andhra Pradesh and the Janata Dal in Kamatakacould spell trouble for the Congress, Even in 1983, when the TDP had routed the Congress in Andhra Pradesh and the Janata Dal in Kamataka, Muslims had by and large supported the Congress. The Congress poll strategists were hoping that inclusion of Muslims in the list of the OBCs in the two states would enable them to consolidate their support among the minorities. The Muslims account for 12% of the electorate in Kamataka and can affect the outcome of electoral contests in at least three dozen Assembly constituencies.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 28, 1994
