UP polls: Mulayam in a tight spot

FLASHBACK: In the 2002 Assembly elections, Muslims of Rohilkhand had voted in favour of Mulayam.

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Rae Bareli: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav prides himself to be the sole representative of Muslims in the state.

In the 2002 Assembly elections, Muslims of Rohilkhand had voted in favour of Mulayam. Of the 54 Assembly seats in the region, Mulayam's Samajwadi Party bagged 27 seats. But this election, Mulayam's stranglehold on Muslim votes seems to be under threat.

"Muslims have been used and thrown by all parties here. We don't want to be used anymore, so we've formed our own party," says Chairman of All India Intheyad-e-Millath Council.

To make matters worse for Mulayam, the Congress and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party are reaching out to Muslim voters. Mayawati has given 61 tickets to Muslims while the Congress is promising new sops to the commmunity.

"Muslim voters are confused about which party to choose. Rahul Gandhi's campaign has increased the Congress' popularity," says social worker Rahim Ansari.

If Yadav vote was crucial for Mulayam in the first phase of polling, in the third phase, the Muslims will decide the fate of the political parties. If this crucial Muslim vote splits, there could be tough days ahead for Mulayam.