Several Muslim clerics and organisations on Monday alleged that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) treated the minority community just as a vote bank. The decision of the MVA to not field any Muslim candidate in the forthcoming Legislative Council elections in the state has caused them much distress, they complained. Addressing a press conference, Anjum Inamdar, president, Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, said, “In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, the Muslim community purposely voted against the Modi government… It was observed that the BJP was creating a rift between the Muslim community and other communities. This was the reason the Muslims preferred the INDIA bloc, which is the MVA in the state, in the Lok Sabha polls.” Muslim clerics, organisations, and social workers firmly backed MVA candidates in the polls, he added. Both the MVA and the BJP leaders are aware that Muslim clerics and organisations helped MVA candidates in the polls, resulting in the victory of 30 MVA candidates in Maharashtra, said clerics Kari Idris Ansari and Maulana Nijamudi. “The Congress and the NCP did not nominate any Muslim candidate to the two Legislative Council seats for which elections will be held shortly, although those seats are currently held by Abba Durani of the NCP and Wajahat Mirza of the Congress. Muslim workers in both parties protested against the decision but they were ignored. This means they just want Muslim votes but don’t want to share power with them,” said former Congress corporator Mukhtar Sheikh. Cautioning the MVA parties, Inamdar said they would highlight this issue in all 22 Assembly seats in the Pune district ahead of the state elections to be held later this year. “We have always treated everyone equally and given due respect to Muslim community leaders. The Congress has invited applications from aspirants for party ticket for Assembly elections and all those interested can seek candidature. There will be representation for Muslim community leaders in the Assembly election, provided the winning ability is there," said city Congress chief Arvind Shinde.
