Cong to mobilise Muslim votes

The Congress has decided to showcase various schemes, the UPA government has launched for the Muslim community in order to woo them ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Muslims, who constitute roughly 20 per cent of the state’s electorate, are deciding factors at around 21 Lok Sabha seats in UP. The party has planned a series of seminars to spread the message among the minority community, whose support is vital for electoral success of the party in the forthcoming elections.

One such seminar was organised here a few days back by the party’s minority welfare programme review unit along with strive for eminence and empowerment (SEE).

Maulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, SEE chairperson left no stone unturned in making an attempt to impress the gathering.

He praised All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for increasing allocation for the schemes in the 12th five year plan for the minorities.

“It is absolutely essential to showcase what we are doing for the Muslim community. It will send a positive message,” a senior Congress leader said here while speaking to Deccan Herald.

“Such seminars will certainly help,” he added. Congress had failed to secure Muslim votes in the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh last year.

Although the party had bagged 21 seats in 2009 Lok Sabha polls, it received a severe drubbing in the recently held Assembly elections and could secure only 29 seats.

It faced a humiliating defeat even at the Nehru-Gandhi pocket boroughs of Raebareli and Amethi.  The party could not win any Assembly seat in Amethi and was able to win only two seats in Raebareli.