19 Oct 2008, 0023 hrs IST, Dipak Kumar Dash, TNN
NEW DELHI: In its latest move to woo Muslim voters ahead of assembly elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced to reserve as many as 40% of its seats for Muslim candidates. The announcement comes close on the heels of the party taking the lead to press for a judicial inquiry into the Batla House encounter episode in Jamia Nagar.
State party unit president Shyam Gambhir said they would come out with the first list of candidates on Wednesday and the party would field 50 to 60 candidates for the elections. “We are making all possible efforts to win as many seats as we can win. One thing is sure that the party will open its account in Delhi assembly. With party national leaders addressing rallies and participating in the poll campaign, we will give a good fight,” said Gambhir.
While the party has not yet played any significant role in city politics, its leadership is hopeful of making inroad into Muslim dominated areas here. Already, party general secretary Amar Singh has addressed two meetings in Okhla area to consolidate the party’s presence in the locality. “Delhi has a large chunk of people from Uttar Pradesh (UP), where we have already made our mark. Migrated population from UP would find us as the first choice,” said one of the finalised candidates.
He added they would concentrate more on constituencies with influential percentage of Muslim voters. “The community is realising how depending on any other party is a suicide. Congress has only used them to come to power and during Mayawati rule Muslim youth have been arrested from her state,” the leader said.
