Muslims may play a decisive role in Manipur elections

Story by  ATV | Posted by  Aasha Khosa • 2 Years ago
N Biren Singh along with Abdul Nasir and Antas
N Biren Singh along with Abdul Nasir and Antas

 

Mubasir Raji/Imphal
 
Altogether 13 Muslim candidates are in the fray in Manipur where the assembly elections will be held on February 28 and March 5. While the lone Muslim candidate from the ruling BJP has filed his nomination to contest the election, four each from Congress and NPP, 3 from JDU, and one from NCP have also filed their papers.

There are at present only three sitting Muslim MLAs in the 60 members Manipur Legislative Assembly. Out of the 28 lakh population in Manipur 2.40 lakh are Muslims.
 

Sheikh Noorul Hasan
 
Only Lilong out of 60 assembly constituencies in Manipur is dominated by Muslims. Even though the Muslims are spread across around 13 constituencies, only four constituencies will see the election contest by Muslim candidates. In the other nine constituencies, Muslims will play deciding factor. Particularly in constituencies where more than two candidates are in the fray Muslims always play the deciding factor.
 
No Muslim women candidate in the fray and so far no Muslim woman has ever become a member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The National People’s Party (NPP) in their manifesto mentioned including Meitei Panngal in the demand for Schedule Tribe. It can be mentioned that the demand for inclusion of majority community Meitei in Schedule is a major issue. However, till now stand of different major parties regarding the status of Meitei Pangal in this regard is dubious.
 
None of the political parties have taken a stand about the Meitei Pangal. Even though the community comprises one of the most backward communities in the state, no party has made promises to them.
 
On the other hand, the Muslim voters in Manipur are demanding their reservation in higher education and government jobs. 
 

Chief Minister N Biren Singh Inaugurating the Hajj House at Imphal

It’s for the first time that BJP has fielded candidates in all the 60 Assembly Constituencies. This includes one Muslim and three women candidates. They have fielded Y Antas Khan from Lilong Assembly Constituency, the only Muslim-majority segment. He is a veteran BJP leader. However, disappointed at being denied a ticket in the 2017 elections, he had resigned to contest an independent candidate.
 
Later on, in the 2020 by-election, BJP decided not to field any candidate from Lilong Assembly Constituency, however, Y Antas Khan fought as an independent and won.
 
The main opposition party in the state, Indian National Congress has allotted tickets to four Muslim candidates. It’s candidate Md. Amin Shah from Kshetrigao, is an ex-MLA. He is a second-generation Congress politician, his father Mohamuddin Shah was an MLA. He is contesting for the third consecutive time.
 

Mohammad Amin Shah with his wife
 
Congress party has fielded sitting MLA Md Fajur Rahim from Wabagai Assembly Constituency. He is a two-time MLA. In 2017 he defeated his nearest opponent Usham Deben Singh of BJP. However, he faces an anti-incumbency factor. The other Congress candidates are Badrur Rahman from Jiribam and Syed Anwar Hussain from Lilong.
 
Ruling partner NPP has also given tickets to four Muslim candidates out of the 42 seats it’s contesting from. Its candidate Sheikh Noor-ul Hassan from Kshetrigao is a new face.
 
Md Nasiruddin Khan who is contesting from Keirao will be pitted against BJP sitting MLA L Rameshor Meitei. He too is another second-generation politician; his father Md Alauddin Khan was a former Congress minister. The party also fielded Mk Abbas Khan from Jiribam.
 
JD (U), the newest entrant into the State has fielded three Muslim candidates. They are: Md Abdul Nasir from Lilong , Md Sakir Ahmed from Wabagai, and sitting MLA Assabudin from Jiribam. 
 
Assabudin is a seasoned leader and a two-term MLA. Md Abdul Nasir, a former Congress minister who resigned along with four other Congress MLAs in 2020. His coup was behind the victory of BJP candidate Leisehemba Sanajaoba in the Rajya Sabha election and the saving of the N Biren Singh government.
 
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded Md. Islamuddin Khan from Keirao Assembly Constituency.
 
Muslims’ have a considerable presence in Khurai, Heingang - Constituency of Chief Minister N Biren Singh – Mayang-Imphal, Andro, Thoubal, Wabagai, Wangkhem, Bishnupur, and Moirang.
 
Muslim votes have always played a balancing role in favor of winning candidates’. Long after he passed away, Md Alim-Uddin is still regarded as one of the finest Chief Ministers of the state.
 

Antas Khan hoisting the party flag at BJP headquarters in Imphal
 
Significantly, the current government didn’t even nominate a minister of Minority affairs.
 
While local issues dominate the narrative of election campaigning, in Lilong candidates are promising major infrastructure and developmental projects and especially Women's market centers.
 
However, the only Muslim candidate to speak about the pan-Manipur issue is Sheikh Noor ul Hassan. He is the only Muslim Candidate who campaigned on other Constituencies too.
 
No Muslim women candidate in the fray and so far no Muslim woman has ever become a member of the Legislative Assembly. NPP in its manifesto mentioned including Meitei Panngal in the list of Schedule Tribe.