Flags of different parties flutter inside the historical Wallajah Mosque during the Friday prayers as representatives of various outfits wait outside to woo the worshippers with pamphlets enumerating the salient points of their respective poll manifestos.
Muslims constitute around 25 per cent vote share at Triplicane, a constituency formed after the merger of Chepauk and Triplicane segments in 2008. The majority of the Muslims residing in and around Chepauk and Big street on either side of Pycrofts Road, Triplicane High Road and Zam Bazaar have numbers enough to tilt the scales of power in favour of any candidate to whom they take a liking.
Despite such huge numbers, the area has not seen a single Muslim candidate emerging a victor ever since the 2008 delimitation. J Anbazhagan of DMK managed to win the seat in the first election after its amalgamation. This was nothing out of the ordinary for Chepauk, as it has traditionally been a stronghold of DMK. Chepauk was the home turf of DMK chief M Karunanidhi, who won from here three consecutive terms – 1996, 2001 and 2006.
Triplicane has seen Muslim candidates vie for glory. However, all such candidates belonged to the Dravidian parties. Despite the presence of a huge Muslim vote-bank, no outfit representing the community has been able to sway the voters here.
Syed Sultan Basha, owner of a printing press, sums up the reason for the anomaly. “Muslim community has been voting for the Dravidian parties, as it doesn’t believe in caste or religion.” Even if the Dravidian parties come to power, the equation is such that the Muslim community retains a semblance of influence in the State politics.
Though they are accustomed to voting for Dravidian parties, there is a simmering anger against the Dravidian giants for their apparent failure to promote Urdu. The constituency also grapples with civic issues like water shortage, overflowing sewage and unplanned growth.
Besides politics and civic issues, the community is also awake to the necessity of welfare of the members. Abdul Rahim, a former TADA detenue and now an Indian National League functionary, says, “The prime criterion for an average Muslim voter is to get those who have spent more than 19 years in jail released. We will be voting for the party that will help release such people.”
The constituency has a sizable population of Christians, Hindus and a chunk of Dalit voters who can have a decisive impact on the eventual result.
Despite big vote bank, Muslim outfits yet to make their mark
Triplicane has seen Muslim candidates vie for glory. However, all such candidates belonged to the Dravidian parties. Despite the presence of a huge Muslim vote-bank, no outfit representing the community has been able to sway the voters here
The Muslim community has been voting for the Dravidian parties as they don’t believe in caste or religion. Even if the Dravidian parties come to power, the equation is such that the Muslim community retains a semblance of influence in State politics. - Syed Sultan Basha, a printing press owner
The prime criterion for an average Muslim voter is to get those who have spent more than 19 years in jail released. We will be voting for the party that will help release such people. - Abdul Rahim, Indian National League functionary