Has Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar already conceded defeat? If that so, will the other players like Tejaswi or Owaisi strengthen the world’s largest democracy? How does 17% of Muslim votes count in Bihar as its just 1.1% count when they vote for Biden
Text: Dr. Jalis Akhtar Nasiri | Edited by: Pragya Nidhi
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has recently addressed a crowd during an election rally ahead of the third phase of Bihar Assembly polls in Dhamdaha constituency in Purnia district of Bihar – “Parso chunav hai aur yeh mera aakhiri chunav hai…aur ant bhala to sab bhala”. When Mr. Nitish Kumar declares that this will be his ”last election” Chidambaram said on Twitter. “Last election” ploy is not an appeal for support based on his performance, but a plea for mercy on the basis of his non-performance.”
PM Narendra Modi points to huge crowd rallies amid COVID. He called it “proof” of the people’s enthusiasm for the NITISH-led NDA rule in Bihar. “NDA government is being formed again under the leadership of Nitish Babu, and it has supported the poor people ever since the pandemic began.”
The BJP came out in strong support of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as the face of the ruling NDA ahead of the assembly election, backing the JD (U) chief amid a period of time without getting weaker by former partner LJP, which has put up candidates against the JD (U).
Nitish is seeking a fourth straight term in office, has been criss-crossing across the state, which is due to vote in the third polls on November 7. The results of the election will be announced on November 10.
Even though all the polls show that Joe Biden is about to win the presidential elections, he still showed his trust and faith in the democratic process of vote counting and didn’t make any random remarks. This is the “wait” that is needed in the Indian democratic system, but this wasn’t reflected in “Nitish Kumar’s preponed announcement of his retirement”. Indian politicians need to learn patience and trust the election process by letting it take its full course without any interruption.
Muslim connection
Polling is going on in 78 seats in the third phase of Bihar elections. Most of these seats are Muslim voters. In districts like Katihar, Purnia, Araria, and Kishanganj, with 24 seats in Phase 3, the Muslim population is between 40 and 70 percent.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s entry of AIMIM has triggered a battle between the NDA and the Grand Alliance in the region. The party has fielded 14 candidates out of 24 Muslim majority seats in the Seemanchal region. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM not only opened an account in Bihar after winning the Kishanganj assembly by-election in October last year but also created a stir in the NDA and the Grand Alliance.
Targeting BJP, JDU, and RJD, Asaduddin Owaisi recently said that ‘JDU has allied with BJP this time. The JDU and RJD alliance have also duped voters. In 2020 we have to answer them.
60 percent of American Muslims voted for Biden?
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) polled 844 registered Muslim voter households and reported that only 17% opted for President Donald Trump. This was a 4% increase compared to the 2016 election, in which then-President-elect Trump received 13 percent of the Muslim vote. Meanwhile, only 3% voted for a different candidate.
“CAIR would like to thank the more than one million American Muslim voters who turned out in record-breaking numbers this election cycle,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.
“The Muslim community’s significant ability to impact the results of numerous races across this country – including the presidential election – was recognized nationally by candidates and the media.”
CAIR Director of Government Affairs, Robert S. McCaw, added: “Muslims vote and there is no denying the role our community plays in local, state and national politics. Now is the time to hold the politicians we elected to office accountable to ensure that the civil and religious rights of all Americans are being upheld and protected.”
The Muslim population of the USA makes up 1.1% of the total population and they are one of the most ethnically and racially diverse groups. More than 60% of Muslim respondents said they would like to see policy changes to the Muslim Ban, which allows vast immigration restrictions for travelers from several Muslim-majority countries.
Muslim votes to be decisive in Bihar polls
In Bihar Elections (Bihar Polls 2020), AIMIM has placed its candidates on 24 out of the total 243 Bihar Assembly Seats. The party hopes that it will win at least 10 seats. Muslim voters play an important role in the victory and defeat in 19 seats of Seemanchal. Kosi has a sizeable number of Muslim voters in 18 seats. In such a situation, due to Owaisi’s aggressive election campaign, there is a sort of chaos in the “Grand” Alliance camp.