Jaipur: The ruling BJP govt, like Congress, is also depending on Muslim vote bank in the forthcoming Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) polls by fielding eight Muslim candidates across 150 wards of the unified JMC. The contrast is striking. BJP had nominated one Muslim candidate in 2014 and two in 2020. This time, the party has put up its highest-ever number of Muslim candidates in JMC election, signalling a sharper ward-level strategy.Party leaders said nominations were part of a strategic shift aimed at Muslim-majority and Congress-influenced pockets. The aim is to expand BJP’s reach and stop Congress from consolidating minority-dominated wards. “Candidate selection reflects electorate composition. BJP is confident that Muslim voters will support its development agenda and reward the party’s efforts in polls,” stated BJP spokesperson Ramlal Sharma.Of the eight Muslim candidates, three have been nominated from Wards 136, 137 and 146 in the Hawa Mahal zone. Two candidates each have been fielded from Wards 109 and 113 in Kishanpole, and Wards 117 and 128 in Adarsh Nagar. These seven wards were part of the erstwhile JMC Heritage. Another Muslim candidate has been fielded from Ward 19 in the Vidhyadhar Nagar zone, earlier a part of JMC Greater.A senior BJP official said delimitation efforts sought to create wards by mixing minority and majority-dominated areas. However, in some wards minority dominance remained, making Muslim voters a decisive factor. BJP is now banking on its Muslim nominees to reach these voters.“Following the Gen Z protests, discontent against BJP has surfaced among sections of floating voters. The JMC unification, cutting wards to 150, has further fuelled resentment among BJP workers and associates who were denied tickets. In such conditions, BJP would risk losing its board prospects if Congress were allowed to sweep these seats, turning internal rebellion and voter drift into a decisive advantage,” the BJP official said.
