AGRA (India), Apr 23: A visit to the city of "Tajmahal", where voting will be held tomorrow (April 24), gives an impression that the turn out of voters this time will be high compared to that of the previous elections for the on-going national election is being considered "crucial" one for the key players in the Indian political arena.
For the ruling Congress and its allies, it appears to be a difficult challenge to remain in power after two terms. But the UPA alliance asserts that the electorates would choose them again for the sake of a "secular and progressive" India as against the "divisive" force which is trying to raise their "ugly heads".
On the other hand, the frontrunner in the polls race, opposition nominee Narendra Modi and his BJP in the NDA insists that it is high time for a change in the country for the sake of "goodness" and better future. They are alleging that the Congress-led government is responsible for myriads of problems in the country while claiming that a change in favour of the Modi's BJP would usher in a new era for India.
The "Aam Admi Party" (APP), which emerged in the political scene not long ago riding the strong anti-graft sentiment among the population, alleges that both the big parties have betrayed the people. The smaller and influential regional parties, who broadly oppose both the leading parties, are hoping to form a "third" or "fourth front" government. The left forces as usual are urging people to support honesty and fair play in public life.
As the people of the historic city are now caught up in speculations about the shape of things to come at the end of the current polls, streams of visitors, who throng to have a glimpse of the famous "Agra Fort" and the imposing "Tajmahal", are also seemingly taking interest and making comments on the political milieu of India. For the time being politics has apparently taken precedence over the glamour and attraction of the landmark sites of the city.
Earlier, during a quick drive along the vast segments of the important Uttar Pradesh state, where balloting took place in a number of seats while electorates in a large number of constituencies are still waiting for the voting to be held, it was observed that the political parties were sparing no efforts to garner support of the voters. Aligarh, which has a sizeable minority community and is well-known for a Muslim university, was also no exception. Residents there were also found taking great interest in the ongoing polls.
Key political parties are clearly wooing the minority voters, which can play critical role in the many constituencies of the Uttar Pradesh that sends the largest number of lawmakers to the Lokshaba, the 543-seat lower house of Indian parliament.
In this state, four parties have big stakes in the polls -- the state-ruling SP of Mulyam Singh Yadav, the former ruling BSP of Mayawati, the BJP and the Congress. The first two are the regional parties with big following in the UP and they are vying to get maximum seats while the BJP too has a strong base and is seeking to win a good number of seats. The Congress appears to be in the fourth position here, but Sonia Gandhi, the Congress chief and her son Rahul Gandhi are seeking election from UP like previous years.
Barring the BJP, rest three parties that are known as "secular" forces could not field common candidates in any seat because of their rivalry. Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi in the UP along with another seats in his native Gujarat state.
The BJP dismisses outright the allegation that it is a communal organisation. Rather it has been accusing its rivals of using the "minorities" as the vote banks. The party is seeking to play down the comments of two prominent leaders, whose recent remarks have stoked fear and drawn severe criticism from various quarters. BJP leader in Bihar Giriraj Singh last week commented that those who were against Modi in the elections had no place in India and they should migrate to Pakistan. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an ally of BJP, chief Dr Pravin Togadia said the other day that Muslims must not be allowed to own properties in the Hindu-dominated areas. Both the men have been taken to task by the election commission for spewing venom.
The BJP has chided both the leaders and Narendra Modi is now in the "damage control" mode. He said Muslims have nothing to fear from him and, if elected, he would run the government as per the constitution and not by RSS or any other organisation that are known for anti-minority bias. Evidently, the key players in the elections are making every effort to take the minorities along their side and the BJP, a strong contender for power, seeks to allay fears that it is an anti-Muslim platform. The BJP is also playing down the statement of its vive-president Mukthat Abbas Naqvi who said that the party would give priority to the Ram Mandir issue in Ayodhya if it came to power. Party Chief Rajnath Singh agrees that it is in the BJP manifesto, but he hastened to add that it was not a key issue for the BJP, which believes that the development of the country must receive top attention.
Narendra Modi said that his party would follow the foreign policy of Atal Bihari Vajpyee government if comes to power, which means good ties with the neighbours as far s possible.
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