Indian Elections: Mysteries of The Muslim Mood, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Indian Elections: Mysteries of The Muslim Mood

By Seema Mustafa

It is also for the first time that Muslims are being attracted to such parties, post-Independence, with organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami unable to open their accounts in State and Parliamentary elections over the years. Madani, whose initial Islamic Sevak Sangh was banned in 1993 in Kerala, who lost a leg in a bomb blast, and who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Coimbatore blasts in 1998 spending ten long years in prison before being acquitted of all charges, is emerging as a major force in Kerala. “My position is that the Muslim community cannot go as a separate group, that is not good. We have to go with secular forces, that alone will be good for the community,” he said. To prove his change of heart he has emerged as a major campaigner for the LDF, with the CPI[M] joining issue with ally Janata Dal[S] to get Madani’s candidate the Ponnani seat in Kerala. Dr Hussein is contesting as an Independent, but Madani’s campaign has consolidated the sizeable Muslim vote in the constituency. He has also campaigned amongst Muslims for the LDF, taking up the nuclear deal and the strategic alliance with the US, defence relations with Israel as some of the key issues. He is positive that the LDF will get between 10-13 seats in Kerala, and the Muslim League “will lose heavily”. Madani’s PDP is all set to replace the Muslim League in Kerala as an LDF, and not UDF, ally.

http://newageislam.com/indian-elections--mysteries-of-the-muslim-mood-/islam-and-politics/d/1380

Malaysia: Victorious Anwar on path to power, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Malaysia: Victorious Anwar on path to power

Aug 28, 2008

By Anil Netto

The by-election itself was dogged by the BN's exploitation of the sodomy charges against Anwar, which in the end did not make much headway among the voters of Permatang Pauh as Anwar captured two-thirds of the votes cast. He may also have succeeded in winning about 60-65% of votes from ethnic Malays in a constituency where the group makes up close to 70% of voters.

Chinese and Indian Malaysian voters in the constituency are also likely to have voted in droves for the PKR. Anwar has successfully forged a coalition among disparate opposition parties comprising his PKR, the multi-ethnic but Chinese-based Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the Islamic party PAS.

The coalition - known as the People's Alliance (PR) - won 81 seats in the March 8 general election while the BN secured 140, thus depriving the ruling coalition of its coveted two-thirds parliamentary majority. The by-election was seen as a barometer as to whether support for the PR had risen since the general election.

http://newageislam.com/malaysia--victorious-anwar-on-path-to-power/islam-and-politics/d/642