Kolkata: At a blood donation camp in Taltala on Sunday, BJP functionaries made a direct appeal to Muslim electorate ahead of the KMC polls, urging voters to support BJP candidates and promising to “think” about their development if they voted for it.“I am telling my Muslim brothers. BJP has formed the govt in the state and there will be development. (KMC) elections are approaching. Send out a good message by voting for BJP candidates in your wards. If you do that then the party will also think that since Muslims have voted for us, let us think about their development and upliftment. Mamata Banerjee made Muslims work like lumpens. But BJP will not do that. We will work for your development. So many Muslims are already benefitting out of Annapurna Bhandar scheme. More people will be enrolled in the coming days. Become a stakeholder in the development under BJP,” said Santosh Pathak, councillor of ward 45 and BJP candidate from Chowringhee.BJP seeks to expand its electoral footprint in Kolkata’s Muslim-majority and mixed-population areas. The pitch comes amid friction over azan, namaz and food choices, as well as controversial remarks by party leaders.Pathak pointed to a disconnect between welfare and votes. “BJP is in office in 22 states. Muslims in those states avail all the welfare schemes of the BJP govt but they do not vote for BJP. This is not right. I can’t understand why Muslims hate BJP. Since BJP has assumed office in Bengal mostly Muslim brothers have come to me with their problems and I have resolved the issues. But they did not vote for me too. I don’t have any problem with them. But it makes me sad,” said Pathak.Weeks earlier, BJP MLA Ritesh Tiwari triggered controversy by saying he would not undertake work or issue official certificates for Muslim voters for five years because the community had not voted for him.At Taltala, Pathak asked Muslims to become “stakeholders” in development by voting for BJP.State industries minister Tapas Roy, also present at the camp, said: “We are working for every section of the society under chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.”
