Ramkrishna Paramhansa among the Muslims

The timing is perfect. A large crowd assembles in front of Musa Sher Mosque after the evening prayer at Rajabazar, a predominantly Muslim ar...

The timing is perfect. A large crowd assembles in front of Musa Sher Mosque after the evening prayer at Rajabazar, a predominantly Muslim area in central Kolkata. A microphone blares out a message soon after the evening 8220;azzan,8221; as Ruksana a young lady, draped in a chador announces the arrival of Ajit Panja, a former union minister and the LS candidate from Kolkata North-East constituency.

As the crowd swells Ruksana reminds the crowd in chaste Urdu: 8220;It was Ajitda who fought for us in the Kolkata High Court and won a case in favour of 8220;azzan8221; being sung on the public address system. Ruksana was referring to a case in which there was a PIL in the Kolkata High Court against Azzan being sung too loudly over microphones and urging the court for restraint. The case came close on the heels of a similar ban on bursting of fire crackers during Diwali.

The crowd burst into applause and Panja reciprocated with folded hands. Panja moves on to the next mosque to pay obeisance.

No wonder, here is a man who has made a record of some sort in the state winning six assembly and six parliament elections 8211; a total of 12 wins and no defeat to his credit. For any contestant against Panja, electioneering is a nightmare. Insiders in Panja8217;s camp say that his pronounced stress this time on muslim locality is in response to an allegation raised by his opponent camp that he is a man who does stage performance in the role of 8220;Ramkrishna Paramhansa8221; 8211; a Hindu God to court the Hindu voters. Panja has so far performed in the role of Ramkrishna in over 200 stage shows.

Muslims constitute a solid 23 to 25 of the total electorate of about 800,000 in Kolkata North East constituency. Fighting against Panja this time is Mohhamed Salim, a former CPIM Rajya Sabha member and now a minister in Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee cabinet. Salim is one of the front runners among the Marxists8217; young emerging leadership. Salim has reportedly been tacitly using the Ramkrishna episode telling his voters : 8220; Either you vote for me or watch Ramkrishna.8221; The message is clear 8211; 8220;Don8217;t vote for Panja.8221;

Is Panja a bit worried this time around and fears that his Ramkrishna venture might sway minorities to Salim ? Panja fumes at the suggestion: 8220;The people in my constituency are my children and I stand by them irrespective of their caste and creed. Actually it is Salim who is fomenting communal tension in the area by criticising me for my role as Thakur Ramkrishna. I will take it up with the Election Commission,8217;8217;Panja says.

For Salim this is the second time he is pitted against Panja. Last time he lost by a margin of 41,574 votes. Salim doubts Panja8217;s mental fitness. 8216;8216;He has lost his mental balance. I will probably never have to act in the role of Ramkrishna or Hajrat Mohammed to attract votes. I am getting very good response from people. They want change this time,8217;8217; Salim says.

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A cross section of voters however, say that Panja8217;s liaison with the people in his constituency, development work using MPLAD funds and his personal contact will see him through this time too. According to one estimate panja has spent about Rs. 22 crore in his constituency not one who approaches him for help and assistance will go empty handed.

Sirajuddin, a shop keeper in Rajabazar agrees: 8220;Ajitda is our own man. You have any problem and you go to him. He will try his best to sole it. He has done a lot for our area also. There is no question of casting our vote for anybody else,8217;8217; says Sirajuddin..