Candidates and geography likely to decide Muslim votes: Survey

A recent survey shows that the average Muslim voter decides who to vote for on the basis of the character of the candidates contesting polls. The Hindustan Times reported that Muslims tend to vote for the Congress in places where the fight is between Congress and BJP. The piece quoted Zoya Hasan of JNU as saying that in the absence of an existential threat, Muslims vote on bread-and-butter issues. “And Modi, even if he is seen as a threat, may not be an issue in many states, such as Assam, Kerala, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh”. [caption id=“attachment_1443033” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational Image. AFP[/caption] Data from the survey by CSDS-IBN across various states showed that despite attempts to appear moderate and approach Muslims across his campaign trail, the votes of India’s biggest religious minority is unlikely to swing towards the BJP. The recent meeting between Sonia Gandhi and the Shahi Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, sparked a heated conversation about the polarisation of votes. However, the one thing clear from both surveys is that irrespective of their attempts, BJP is unlikely to grab a major bite of the Muslim vote this election.