Political Appeals by Religious Leaders

Political Appeals by Religious Leaders in Varanasi Under Scrutiny 

Varanasi: A clerics' body in Varanasi has controversially extended support to one of the candidates after the end of campaigning. In a written appeal, the Mufti Board of Varanasi asked voters on Sunday to press the button against the symbol of that candidate's party.

Varanasi, which is voting today, is seen as the mega contest of these elections. It is a prestige battle for Narendra Modi of the BJP, the first prime ministerial candidate to contest from the ancient city.

His chief challenger is Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party. Also in the contest is Ajai Rai, a local legislator fielded by the Congress and other candidates from parties like the Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and even the Trinamool Congress.

A Special Observer appointed for Varanasi by the Election Commission has said about the appeal made by the Mufti Board Benaras Secretary Maulana Haseem Ahmad Habibi and the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Badshahbagh, "The issue needs to be examined and we will look into the statements."

Campaigning ended at 6 pm on Saturday. Vote appeals are not allowed thereafter.

Muslims account for about 15 per cent of the total electorate of Varanasi. The BJP is counting on that vote being split between Mr Kejriwal and the Congress. It reportedly saw in multiple roadshows being held by A-listers like the Congress' Rahul Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Mr Kejriwal, scope for confusion for voters and a division of non-Modi votes.

Mukhtar Ansari, the jailed mafia don who heads the Qaumi Ekta Manch and who had come a close second to the BJP in 2009, did not contest the elections this time. He said he was backing the Congress' Ajai Rai to ensure that the "secular vote is not split."

On Sunday, Shahar-e-Mufti Maulana Abdul Batin, another influential cleric, told the media that Muslims should ensure there is no division of votes and "communal forces are defeated."