The BJP holds up the Triple talaq bill as one of the key achievements of its government at the Centre, but one of its key Muslim and woman candidates in West Bengal is not too keen on highlighting it in her campaign.
The candidate is Mafuja Khatun, who the BJP has fielded from the minority-dominated Jangipur Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. About 58% of voters in Jangipur are from the minority community.
“The issue of the Triple talaq bill is not going to be the highlight of my campaign as the impact of the custom of triple talaq is not equal across the country. Instead, my campaign will focus on the plight of beedi workers who are prevented from accessing the benefits of Centre's scheme by the state government,” Khatun told DH.
BJP sources also echoed Khatun and said that they are unsure about the impact of Triple Talaq on the woman voters of Jangipur and hence are not very keen on highlighting it in their campaign.
In her campaign, Khatun has focused on highlighting the lack of development work in Jangipur by the outgoing Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee. Abhijit is the son of former President Pranab Mukherjee.
“The condition of roads is horrible in Jangipur. He (Abhijit) has barely fulfilled any of the promises which he made before the last Lok Sabha election. Moreover, he is seldom in the constituency. So how will people approach their MP,” said Khatun.
Khatun also said that so far, she has not received any negative feedback from the minority community of Jangipur for being a BJP candidate.
“The Muslims in Jangipur have welcomed me with warmth and affection. I am confident of getting their support in the Lok Sabha elections,” said Khatun.
The BJP candidate, who was a CPI(M) MLA, will also target TMC for it’s “false claims” on the development of the minority community. She accused the TMC of indulging in “vote bank politics” over the minority community.
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee only makes hollow claims about development of Muslims. But under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Muslims have suffered both on the educational and economic front,” said Khatun.
