‘I admired PM Modi for his charisma. But his popularity has been falling. There is too much Hindu-Muslim binary’: NDA’s lone sitting Muslim MP, now in RJD

It is true that the denial of a ticket was the trigger. Despite being in the NDA, I had got overwhelming support from fellow Muslims in the last two Lok Sabha polls. I had the honour of being the lone Muslim face of the NDA in the Lok Sabha. I was confident of winning again from Khagaria. Even the Imam of the Jama Masjid in Khagaria could not have beaten me this time if he had contested on an NDA ticket. But now that I have joined the RJD and am part of the INDIA bloc, I would like to take up larger questions of threat to the Constitution and democracy under the present regime. There is too much misinformation about the economy, which isn’t actually in a good shape.

How do you justify criticising PM Modi now, after being an admirer in the past?

It’s true I was an admirer of PM Modi because of his charisma and appeal. But his popularity has been on the wane. There has been too much of Hindu-Muslim binary under his regime. I am not bragging, but let me make it clear — my victories from Khagaria had to do more with my hard work, appeal and my family’s legacy, more than any other factor. My father Choudhary Salahuddin was an eight-time MLA from Simri Bakhtiyarpur, and a former Bihar minister. My grandfather Nazirul Hasan was the Nawab of the erstwhile princely state of Simri Bakhtiyarpur (now under Saharsa). I too had been an MLA and a Bihar minister before I became the Bihar Congress chief in 2010 (till 2013).

But will voters believe you when you go before them as an INDIA member now?

I agree with the Leader of Opposition in the state, Tejashwi Yadav, that the result of these elections will surprise many. Early this year, there was a lot of hype around the Ayodhya Temple inauguration. It looked to work for a while, but seems to have fizzled out now, needing PM Modi to remind people of it and of Lord Ram often during his election speeches. There has been a dip in polling percentages as well, showing a general lack of enthusiasm among the public towards the election. I’m surprised and dismayed at PM Modi’s remarks regarding the Congress manifesto and Muslims. Such statements can only sharpen the religious binary.

Is the Opposition coming across as a formidable alternative with a clear narrative?

The INDIA bloc should hold more joint public meetings. But individually, all parties such as the RJD, Samajwadi Party and Congress have been doing well. RJD leaders Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav have taken the NDA head-on.

You were a hardcore Congressman who joined the LJP, and are now in the RJD.

Though I had never before been a member of the RJD, as a Congress MLA, I did serve as a minister under Rabri Devi. I have shared a long political relationship with Lalu Prasad. My son Yusuf Salahuddin was an RJD MLA. As for the LJP — which is now the LJP (Ram Vilas) now — I don’t know what made Chirag Paswan not consider me again from Khagaria. But that’s in my past now. My next goal is to ensure INDIA bloc victory from Khagaria and elsewhere.