Rallies and jalsas are always fun. And even though I had to wait for more than three hours while they set up the stage and rolled out the carpets, it was time well spent talking to locals, getting the pulse of elections, and taking in the sight of the imposing Jama Masjid.
An edited version of the article appeared in the Indian Express on April 15.
Chinki Sinha
April 14, 2009
People thronged on the sides of the streets, queued up at the
chai-wallah stalls and leaned from the balcony of the Haji Hotel near
the Urdu Bazaar Tuesday to hear BSP candidate from Chandni Chowk Haji
Mustaqeem address them on the occasion of Baba Bhimrao Ambedkar’s
118th birth anniversary.
The stage with blue banners and life size posters of himself and
Mayawati, Kanshi Ram and Ambedkar was set up near the Jama Masjid gate
for the party’s event. Hundreds of chairs lined right side of the street and police personnel were busy shouting instructions trying to manage the crowd that came in spurts but lingered.
Mustaqeem, who is known and referred to as Ballo Bhai in the area,
owns a meat processing factory and contested the Assembly elections
last year too but was defeated. Party sources said that his reputation
among the Muslims would help them garner votes.
While Tuesday’s event was organized to mark the birth anniversary of
the Dalit icon, for the party, it was also a forum to tell the SC/STs
who have traditionally either voted for Congress or the BJP in the
area that a third alternative is there for them. It was also a way to
tell the community that the candidate respected Ambedkar and the Dalit
sentiments.
The event also kicked off the election campaign for the BSP candidate.
In the post delimitation scenario, 10 Assembly segments were added to
Chandni Chowk, including Adarsh Nagar, Shalimar Bagh, Tri Nagar and
Wazirpur, while the Sadar Bazar Lok Sabha seat stands scrapped and
merged with Chandni Chowk.
Mustaqeem will file his nomination papers today.
Sadaqat Ali, party’s secretary for the Chandni Chowk constituency,
said Mayawati, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and BSP Supremo,
has taken the Dalit movement to new heights by furthering the work of
Ambedkar. With political empowerment now, the community, which
suffered oppression and discrimination, is now in a position to
negotiate for power, he said.
“We need to exercise the power of vote given to us and elect Ballo
Bhai from here. Vote for the elephant,” he said. “Vote for change.”
Amid shouts and slogans from more than 400 people who had gathered
near Jama Masjid Gate no. 1, BSP leaders talked about issues close to
people’s hearts – congestion, unemployment, and lack of quality
education and life for the minorities.
“The Congress and the BJP have done nothing for us. We have always
voted them to power but they have betrayed our hopes,” Ali said. “Now
you have a choice.”
For the 25-year-old Manoj Gautam, a Jatav, who lives near Kali Masjid,
the day was an important one. So what if Ambedkar’s birthday has been
hijacked by political parties to promote their electoral prospects by
showing solidarity with the SC/STs, the BSP leader Mayawati is one of
their own and her word counts, he said.
“Sibal and Maken don’t even come here. We don’t have jobs. We are
struggling. I supported Congress earlier but what have I got. Why not
give a chance to the elephant,” Gautam said, while he waited for
Mustaqeem to turn up. “Behenji has done a lot for the Jatavs in UP. We
hope she does the same here.”
Other locals said the issues of Chandni Chowk have remained the same.
No change has come here despite promises made over the years, Kamla
Devi, another resident said.
“We are counting on Mayawati and Ballo Bhai is a good man. In his
factory, he provides employment to so many people,” she said. “We will
support him.”
A new election office in Urdu Bazaar looked all decked up with
colorful lights and large posters of the symbolic elephant and
Mayawati and Mustaqeem. It was inaugurated Tuesday on the occasion.
Several BSP leaders were present at the event. In all seven
constituencies, the party candidates held similar events to mark the
anniversary.
In Chandni Chowk constituency where Dalits are a sizeable minority,
even Congress candidate Kapil Sibal chose to inaugurate its election
office at 224 Gujranwala Town, Part III Tuesday in honor of the Dalit
leader.
Senior Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes and Jai Praksh Aggarwal.
Fernandes who is Congress general secretary in charge of Delhi
officially too were present.
Sibal had won the 2004 general election from this constituency by a
landslide 71.17 per cent vote share and is hopeful of victory this
time too. He said the he Congress would not deviate from its
pro-women, pro-poor and pro-youth stand.
“Congress has always worked for all sections of society,” he said.
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