BJP fields a Muslim candidate in Madhya Pradesh after five years

Bhopal: For the first time after 1998, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded a Muslim candidate in Madhya Pradesh for the assembly elections due on November 25.

Former federal minister Arif Beg has been pitted against four-time MLA and Congress party’s candidate Arif Aqueel from Bhopal North seat.

Arif Beg had become a Member of Parliament from Bhopal in 1977 on Janata Party ticket defeating Shankar Dayal Sharma of the Congress party. He served as federal minister from 1977 to 1979.

Muslim-dominated Bhopal North seat is considered a Congress bastion and the state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was given the charge to end Congress dominance from this seat.

BJP district president Alok Sharma was expected to contest from this seat. He was, however, not interested in contesting election from this Muslim dominated constituency.

“Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has given ticket to Arif Beg in order to put up a secular image. He wants to give a message to minority community that Muslims are also part of the BJP. How much it transforms into Muslim vote is another thing,” said a BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

Arif Beg, 78, who was away from active politics for many years, is confident about his victory. He said, “My experience is my strength. I have an experience of more than 50 years. All through my life, I have been living in this city and doing politics. I can easily handle Arif Aqueel and emerge victorious with a record margin.”

Arif Beg further said that he has the support of Muslims as well as Hindu voters.

However, nomination of Arif Beg has come as a surprise for many. Some local BJP leaders are protesting against the candidature of Arif Beg, who was almost living a retired life till his name appeared in BJP list.

Arif Aqueel had won this seat for the first time in 1990 as independent candidate. He lost in 1992 to BJP candidate Ramesh Sharma due to polarisation of votes on religious lines. Arif Aqueel again won this seat as Congress candidate in 1998, 2003 and 2008.

Arif Aqueel too is confident about facing Arif Beg. He said, “Like earlier elections, I am again going to win. My supporters are both Muslims and Hindus.”

Bhopal North is the only safe seat for Muslims along with Burhanpur, where Muslims are in a position to decide the outcome of the election.

The Muslim BJP candidate has only won twice in Madhya Pradesh. In the year 1985, Hasnat Siddiqui won as BJP candidate from South Bhopal constituency. Later in 1990, Mohammed Gani Ansari defeated senior Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi from Thandla constituency. In 1993, party fielded Abdul Rab from Burhanpur and again in 1998 Moin Ansari contested on BJP ticket from Burhanpur. But both of them lost. In 2003 Moin Ansari was again given ticket, but he refused to contest facing stiff opposition from the party and his community.