‘BJP’s divisive politics a media creation’: Meet party’s Muslim candidates in Haryana Assembly polls

The BJP had also fielded two Muslim candidates in the state Assembly elections in 2019 and 2014 – Naseem (Ferozepur Jhirka) and Zakir Hussain (Nuh) in 2019 and Alam (Ferozpur Jhirka) and Iqbal (Punahana) in 2014 – but they lost the polls, with the party failing to make inroads into the Nuh belt.

Naseem Ahmed

Naseem Ahmed, 44, had been a two-time MLA from Ferozepur Jhirka, winning from the constituency in 2009 and 2014 as an Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate.

In the 2014 polls, Naseem had won the seat, defeating the then-Independent candidate Mamman Khan by 3,245 votes.

Ahead of the 2019 Assembly polls, Naseem quit the INLD and joined the BJP. He then contested the polls as a BJP candidate but lost to Mamman Khan – who contested on the Congress’s ticket – by 37,004 votes.

Naseem Ahmed. (Express Photo)

Currently, Naseem is also the state BJP secretary.

The BJP has never been able to win the Ferozepur Jhirka seat.

Mohd Aizaz Khan

A law graduate from Agra University, Mohd Aizaz Khan, 56, is a state executive member of the BJP’s Kisan Morcha. He is the son of former minister Chaudhary Sardar Khan.

Aizaz switched to the BJP from the Congress ahead of the 2019 Assembly polls. He was then also eyeing the BJP ticket from Punahana, but the party nominated Nauksham Chaudhary from the seat. Nauksham came third, with the seat won by the Congress’s Mohd Ilyas.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Aizaz said: “In 2019, I had got the Congress ticket. But even after I filed my nomination papers from this seat, Bhupinder Hooda got my ticket cancelled and fielded Mohd Ilyas. Thus, I felt cheated and quit Congress to join BJP.”

Mohd Aizaz Khan Naseem Ahmed. (Express Photo)

On the dominant public issues in the Mewat region, Aizaz said, “Of course, unemployment is a major issue and I will work for uplift of my constituency.”

When asked about the BJP generally not fielding Muslim candidates in polls, Aizaz said, “It is not the case in Mewat. Brotherhood prevails here. I just finished filing my nomination and there is a huge cavalcade of motorbikes and cars filled with youth from different religions who are supporting me. It is only media creation that there is divisive politics being played by BJP. I cannot say if it happens in other parts, but certainly it is not happening here in Mewat region. We all eat from the same plate and participate in each other’s happiness and sorrow. We celebrate our religious functions together. There is no division here in Mewat.”

Aizaz also played down the row over cow vigilantism prevalent in southern Haryana, claiming that “we respect everybody’s religion and personal space in Mewat”.

The BJP has also never won the Punahana seat too.

The Congress has fielded its sitting MLAs, Mamman and Ilyas, from Ferozepur Jhirka and Punahana, respectively, in the upcoming polls.