In a Nuh constituency, bhaichaara to dictate electoral fate

Of the 90 seats in Haryana, BJP is contesting 89 and gave tickets to Muslims on only two seats – Ferozepur Jhirka and its neighbouring Punahana.

Amid the hustle-bustle of electioneering — Haryana goes to polls on October 5 — as one enters Ferozepur Jhirka, an Assembly seat and a tehsil in Nuh district, the intertwining of Hindu-Muslim culture and the presence of Mewati pride is apparent. (Express photo)

According to Arjun Singh Kadian, Mewat is a “poorly defined” region in the south of Haryana and the north of Rajasthan. The academic-cum-policy professional, in his book, ‘Land of the Gods’, writes that the region is “home to Meos or Mewatis” and these people – mostly Muslims – follow Hindu traditions as well.

Amid the hustle-bustle of electioneering — Haryana goes to polls on October 5 — as one enters Ferozepur Jhirka, an Assembly seat and a tehsil in Nuh district, the intertwining of Hindu-Muslim culture and the presence of Mewati pride is apparent.

A total of eight candidates are contesting from the seat. The fight, however, primarily is between Mamman Khan of the Congress and Naseem Ahmed of the Indian National Lok Dal. Mamman is the sitting MLA having defeated Naseem, then with BJP, in 2019 by a margin of 37,004 votes. In 2014, however, Naseem, as INLD candidate had won defeating Mamman (then Independent) by a margin of 3,245 votes. It was Naseem’s second consecutive win. He had won against Mamman (then a Congress candidate) in 2009 with a margin of 18,194 votes.

“Naseem ka yahan bohot support hai. Mamman ka bhi support accha hai. Dono ki takkar hai. (here, there is a lot of support for Naseem, but Mamman has a strong voter base too. It is a tough fight),” says Hitesh Jain, a kirana shop owner and a BJP supporter.

Hitesh Jain and Saudan

His friend Saudan, a driver by profession, however says that Mamman is winning. The friends are divided in their political preference, but accommodate each other’s point of view “kyuki Ferozepur main bhaichaara hai (brotherhood exists in this constituency),” says Saudan.

At another grocery store, Rafeeq and Qasim are also divided by their political choices.

“Both the Congress and the BJP are neck and neck in the fight. It can be a cliffhanger,” says Rafeeq. Qasim, however, gives the saffron party an edge. “Naseem can win. BJP buri party nahi hai. Hum toh BJP ko vote de denge, (BJP is not a bad party. We will vote for the BJP),” says Qasim.

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The mood in the market near Ambedkar Chowk is also shaped by the electoral history and political rivalry of the two candidates.

“Naseem used to win from here as people used to vote for the INLD. Now, this constituency supports the Congress,” says Wasim, 28, from Sidhrawat village. “Log Rahul Gandhi ke yahan zyada fan hue pade hain (People now have become a fan of Rahul Gandhi)”.

Wasim

Wasim’s cousin Mohamaad Shahin also backs the Congress’s leher in Ferozepur Jhirka. “Takkar nahi hai, ektarfa hai. Naseem strong hai, par Mamman logon ke dilon main basa hua hai. (It is one-sided contest. Naseem is a strong candidate, but Mamman rules the heart of the people,” says Wasim, but adds that the Congress leader has not any significant work in the constituency.

Several others backed Wasim’s claim that the Congress candidate may not have great works to show, but all agree that he remains connected with the electorate.

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Of the 90 seats in Haryana, BJP is contesting 89 and gave tickets to Muslims on only two seats – Ferozepur Jhirka and its neighbouring Punahana. After Naseem changed his allegiance to the BJP from the INLD in 2019, he increased the party’s vote share to 32.5 per cent in Ferozepur Jhirka from a low of 5.29 per cent in 2009.

A year ago, Nuh witnessed communal violence that sent tremors in the neighbouring regions too. On July 31 last year a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was attacked, resulting in six deaths, including two home guards and a cleric. Hundreds were detained. Mamman was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly inciting the riots.

“Mamman went to jail because of the violence and that is why he has some support,” says Mohammad Shabir, 32. He, however, adds that had the Congress given a ticket to the INLD’s Mohammad Habib, it would have guaranteed a victory for the party.

Mohammad Shabir

Mamman may have core voter support, but it is this very core support that also questions his alleged inciting speeches. Recently, a video of a public meeting went viral, in which Mamman was purportedly heard saying that he would avenge Nuh riots if the Congress forms government in Haryana.

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“He is not worthy of being leader. We will not support him. He gives provocative speeches,” says Tahir Hussain, who runs a village shop in Kameda. He added that Naseem is a better leader and that Habib will give a fight to both the contenders.

According to Shamshuddin, all three candidates — of the BJP, the Congress, and the INLD — are competent but Mamman will have an edge. “Congress ko hum isliye vote de rahe hain, kyunki hum Hindu-Muslim nahi hone dena chahte (we are voting for the Congress because we do not want any Hindu-Muslim communal tension),” he adds.

“Whoever wins, our fates will not change. We will continue to labour on. Lekin jo inhone bhaaichaara khatam kiya hai, hume usse dukh hai,” Shamshuddin adds.