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Muslim voters show neo-confidence, sitting MLA targets Modi

Muslim voters show neo-confidence, sitting MLA targets Modi

Ahmedabad, Dec 4 (UNI) If Gujarat could 'create' Narendra Modi as larger than life politician, the destiny seems to have decided that his native state - considered a political laboratory - would also bring him down
now, says Congress sitting legislator and candidate from Dariapur Gyasuddin Habibuddin Shaikh.
"It is said very clearly in Koran....As you are created, so shall come your end. This end is now coming for Narendra Modi in Gujarat itself," the Daripaur MLA told a gathering of Muslim voters alongside Jamalpur-Khadia Congress candidate Imran Khedawala.

The celebration mood prevailed in Jamalpur area on Sunday night as Mr Shaikh and Congress candidate for Jamalpur-Khadia Imran Khedawala took to the streets jointly on Sunday late evening addressing small gatherings and meeting voters in their residences.
Young boys and also a few school going girls ran across raising pro-Congress slogans and bursting crackers.
"The mood is already jubilant this time. All these seem to go well for Imran Khedawala," says Arshad Pathan,
a retired Congress MLA Mr Shaikh had won Dariapur assembly seat in 2012 by defeating BJP's sitting member Bharat Barot. Dariapur is not Muslim-majority constituency unlike neighbouring Jamalpur-Khadia -- which has about 60-65 per cent Muslim population. Yet five years back - the BJP could win Jamalpur-Khadia seat.
Mr Shaikh and Congress candidate for Jamalpur-Khadia Imran Khedawala took to the streets jointly on Sunday late evening addressing small gatherings and meeting voters in their residences.
Talking to people, Mr Shaikh said, "Unity among Muslims have become pertinent. These elections are crucial in terms of fighting Narendra Modi. Several other communities like Patidars are against BJP this time, we must be united and be a force in ousting BJP".
The Jamalpur-Khadia defeat in 2012 -- actually haunts Muslim population and political leaders. "The BJP victory in this Muslim-majority was used by Modi across the country and especially in Uttar Pradesh as a model. BJP told voters outside Gujarat, look we can win Muslim seat without a Muslim candidate. This perception needs to be checked," said Congress leader Ilyas Quereshi.
The presence of a Muslim Independent candidate Sabirbhai Kabliwala did all the damage for Congress, and sadly for Muslims - the seat passed on to the BJP.
Bhushan Bhatt of BJP won the seat polling 48,058 votes as against 41,727 by the Congress candidate Samirkhan Sipai.The difference between BJP and Congress candidate over 6000 only.
Independent Muslim candidate Sabirbhai Kabliwala had pocketed 30,513 votes thereby upsetting the prospects of Congress.
Imran Khedawala apparently seems to be lucky this time as the candidate Mr Kabliwala has withdrawn himself from the contest.
"Elderly people convinced him and I am happy all are united to fight BJP," he tells people.
However, the 'decedent game' seems to turn against Mr Gyasuddin Shaikh this time.
Raju Momin has remained in the contest and this has resulted in some moments of worry for the Congress candidate as well as for a section of Muslim voters in Dariapur.
BJP has fielded Bharat Baraot, two time MLA, from the seat. "Our chances of winnig Dariapur brightened not because of an independent candidate. It is actually because of functional failure of Gyasuddin Shaikh. As a sole Muslim representative in the city, he had grown arrogant and this time, his own Muslim voters would vote against him," says Ramesh Bhatt, a BJP booth worker.
UNI DEVN CJ AE1053

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