Muslims in Gujarat are unfazed by the exit polls conducted by two television channels, which predict a comfortable win for the ruling BJP.
Muslims feel that by turning up to vote in numbers they have done their duty to oust the BJP. The rest, they say, "is in the hands of the Almighty".
As for the BJP, it isn't taking out any victory parades as yet. Exit polls do not guarantee victory. Besides, the party realises that the higher turnout might be because of Muslims having turned out to vote en masse in many constituencies. It has been reported that many Gujarati Muslims working outside the state returned to caste their votes.
Though the minorities are numerically decisive in only about six seats in the state, their high turnout this time may tilt the balance against the BJP, especially in marginal seats where the Hindutva wave wasn't so pronounced.
"If the high poll percentage is because of the large Muslim turnout, the BJP has reasons to be worried," said a political analyst. This is one of the reasons why Muslims are not unduly worried about the exit poll projections.
"Booths (with a large Muslim population) have recorded 80 to 90 per cent polling," said Sharif Khan Pathan in support of the argument that the high poll percentage is due to the community's decisive vote this time. "By voting en masse, Muslims have proved they cannot be ignored by any party," said Pathan who was one of organisers of the Shah Alam camp.
{{/usCountry}}"Booths (with a large Muslim population) have recorded 80 to 90 per cent polling," said Sharif Khan Pathan in support of the argument that the high poll percentage is due to the community's decisive vote this time. "By voting en masse, Muslims have proved they cannot be ignored by any party," said Pathan who was one of organisers of the Shah Alam camp.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the controversy regarding VHP leader Pravin Togadiya's name missing from the voter list took a new turn on Friday with the GPCC demanding action against him for getting himself listed at two places.
Togadiya had on Thursday lodged a protest at his name missing from the electoral list in the Sarkhej seat while the Election Commission had pointed out that his name was included in the list for Naorda, where he used to stay earlier.
Legal experts point out the onus is on the citizen to ensure his name appears in the voters' list only at one place.