Muslim disenchantment with SP comes to surface after defeat in 2022 U.P. election 

The community members feel that non-BJP parties have ignored their interests for long

The recent politics over jailed senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan and the expression of discontent by his supporters as well as other Muslim leaders in Uttar Pradesh have brought to fore the simmering frustration within the minority community with the non-BJP parties, in particular the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP.

In the 2022 Assembly election, Muslims, who constitute 19.5% of the population in the State, mobilised overwhelmingly in favour of the SP, playing their part in helping the alliance put up a decent fight.

However, the BJP’s successive win coupled with the long-drawn strategic silence on their issues by the non-BJP parties has led to a fresh churn within the community as it speculates about its political options as well as future.

Saif Babar, a poet in Lucknow, says he voted for the SP in 2022 despite his reservations with it as the SP was the only party which appeared to challenge the BJP.

“Call it their fear or wisdom, without any direct calls by any leader or community cleric, Muslims voted for SP like never before. Even a person like me (critical of the SP) went and voted for it,” Mr. Babar says.

Common Muslims have for a long time felt that non-BJP parties have ignored their interests, he says.

“Muslims don’t vote on the basis of merit of a party. They have been reduced to choosing the one in the best position to defeat the BJP,” he adds.