5. Locating the Communal Vote Bank Politics in the Mediated Heartland of Uttar Pradesh

In Indian conditions, the term “vote bank” is quite popular and during elections every political party uses the term to suit their political understanding. Muslims are generally considered as a vote bank in a broader sense while some other castes, classes, religions, gender, etc. are also included in the lists referred to for political interpretation. “The term vote-bank was first used by noted Indian sociologist, M.N. Srinivas (who also coined the terms Sanskritisation and dominant caste); in his 1955 paper entitled The Social System of a Mysore Village. He used it in the context of political influence exerted by a patron over a client. Later, the expression was used by F.G. Bailey, a professor of Anthropology at the University of California, San Dieago, in his 1959 book Politics and Social Change, to refer to the electoral influence of the caste leader. This is the usage that has since become popular. Though the term originally referred to voting along caste lines, it was soon expanded to describe vote banks based on other community characteristics, such as religion and language” [http://​en.​wikipedia.​org/​wiki/​Votebank, accessed February 23, 2013].

See details in news under the headline ‘Centre bids to push Muslim quota ahead of polls in Uttar Pradesh,’ on December 6, 2011 on TOI, [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​india/​centre-bids-to-push-muslim-quota-ahead-of-polls-in-uttar-pradesh/​articleshow/​10998647.​cms, accessed December 6, 2011].

It was the part of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) when members felt so that Muslims are ever favorite to the political parties during election.

See details in news under headline ‘Cong to focus on Muslim areas ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls,’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​india/​Cong-to-focus-on-Muslim-areas-ahead-of-UP-polls/​articleshow/​10467842.​cms?​ accessed October 24, 2011].

See details in news under headline ‘Cong to focus on Muslim areas ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​india/​Cong-to-focus-on-Muslim-areas-ahead-of-UP-polls/​articleshow/​10467842.​cms?​ accessed October 24, 2011].

See, Census of India 2011 (Uttar Pradesh).

For details see the issues on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2012. Out of eight issues, the issue of reservation for minorities was one of them. Also see [http://​zeenews.​india.​com/​state-elections-2012/​up/​issues.​html/​7, accessed November 13, 2011].

The meaning of sign and symbols can understood through semiotic analysis or the systematic study of signs. “Semiotic starts with the assumption that all communication occurs by the exchange of signs, each of which at least one signifier (a mental concept) and at least one signifier (a physical aspect)” (Bertrand and Hughes 2005).

See for detail in news under headline ‘केंद्रीय सेवाओं में मुसलमानों को आरक्षण जल्द’ on Zee news on October 31, 2011.

See in detail news under headline ‘Muslims must be given separate quota: Mayawati’ on December 19, 2011 on TOI, [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​city/​lucknow/​Muslims-must-be-given-separate-quota-Mayawati/​articleshow/​11161851.​cms?​ accessed December 19, 2011].

See in detail news under headline ‘Muslims must be given separate quota’: Mayawati,’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​city/​lucknow/​Muslims-must-be-given-separate-quota-Mayawati/​articleshow/​11161851.​cms?​ accessed December. 19, 2011].

See for detail in news under headline ‘अब मुलायम ने फेंका मुस्लिम आरक्षण का पासा’ on Aaj Tak on January 8, 2012.

See in details in news under headline ‘Digvijay slams Mulayam for so-called minority love,’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​city/​lucknow/​UP-elections-Digvijay-slams-Mulayam-for-so-called-minority-love/​articleshow/​11574254.​cms?​ accessed Janury 21, 2012].

See in details in news under headline ‘Digvijay slams Mulayam for so-called minority love,’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​city/​lucknow/​UP-elections-Digvijay-slams-Mulayam-for-so-called-minority-love/​articleshow/​11574254.​cms?​ accessed January 21, 2012].

See in detail in news under headline ‘Now, RLD woos Muslims with 8% quota,’ [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​home/​specials/​assembly-elections-2012/​uttar-pradesh/​Now-RLD-woos-Muslims-with-8-quota/​articleshow/​11346203.​cms?​ accessed January 3, 2012].

A commission was established under the chairmanship of B.P Mandal to address the socio-economic conditions of OBCs. The commission recommended 27% reservation for OBCs in education and government jobs to uplift the socio-economic conditions of OBCs. However, V.P Singh implemented the recommendation of the commission and it has been implemented since 1993 in the country.

See in detail in news under headline ‘Now, RLD woos Muslims with 8% quota’ on January 3, 2012 on TOI, [http://​timesofindia.​indiatimes.​com/​home/​specials/​assembly-elections-2012/​uttar-pradesh/​Now-RLD-woos-Muslims-with-8-quota/​articleshow/​11346203.​cms?​ accessed January 3, 2012].

See details in news under headline ‘Uttar Pradesh: Congress promises 9 pc sub-quota for Muslims’ on January 9, 2012 on cnn-ibnlive, [http://​ibnlive.​in.​com/​news/​up-congress-promises-9-pc-subquota-for-muslims/​219283-3.​html?​utm_​source=​ref_​article, accessed January 9, 2012].

See in detail in news under headline ‘BJP meets EC over Cong’s Muslim quota promise’ on January 10, 2012 on cnn-ibnlive, [http://​ibnlive.​in.​com/​news/​bjp-meets-ec-over-congs-muslim-quota-promise/​219571-8.​html?​utm_​ source=​ref_​article, accessed January 10, 2012].

See in detail news under ‘Quota decision will make SP irrelevant in Uttar Pradesh polls: Verma on 24.1.2012’ on The Hindu, [http://​www.​thehindu.​com/​news/​national/​quota-decision-will-make-sp-irrelevant-in-up-polls-verma/​article2742415.​ece, accessed January 24, 2012].

See in detail news under ‘Quota decision will make SP irrelevant in Uttar Pradesh polls: Verma on 24.1.2012 on TOI, http://​www.​thehindu.​com/​news/​national/​quota-decision-will-make-sp-irrelevant-in-up-polls-verma/​article2742415.​ece, accessed January 24, 2012].

See in detail news under ‘Quota decision will make SP irrelevant in Uttar Pradesh polls: Verma on 24.1.2012 on TOI, http://​www.​thehindu.​com/​news/​national/​quota-decision-will-make-sp-irrelevant-in-up-polls-verma/​article2742415.​ece, accessed January 24, 2012].

See for detail news under headline ‘मुस्लिमों के लिए जो हुआ वह नाकाफी: राशिद अल्वी’ on December 23, 2011 on Aaj Tak.

See detail in news under headline ‘Congress trying to divide and rule India’ on January 11, 2012 on NDTV, [http://​www.​ndtv.​com/​article/​assembly-polls/​congress-trying-to-divide-and-rule-india-uma-bharti-165876?​curl=​1390330414, accessed January 11, 2012].

See detail in news under headline ‘Congress trying to divide and rule India’ on January 11, 2012 on NDTV, [http://​www.​ndtv.​com/​article/​assembly-polls/​congress-trying-to-divide-and-rule-india-uma-bharti-165876?​curl=​1390330414, accessed January 11, 2012].

See news under ‘Muslim group see ‘minorities’ quota as a googly’ on The Hindu on December 23, 2011. [http://​www.​thehindu.​com/​news/​national/​muslim-groups-see-minorities-quota-as-a-googly/​article2742416.​ece accessed December 23, 2011].

See news under Muslim group see ‘minorities’ quota as a googly on The Hindu on December 23, 2011, [http://​www.​thehindu.​com/​news/​national/​muslim-groups-see-minorities-quota-as-a-googly/​article2742416.​ece, accessed December 23, 2011].

The narratives discussed during Focus Group Discussions (FGD).

See for details news under the headline “All eyes on the Muslim vote in Uttar Pradesh” on TOI on February 12, 2012. p. 12.

The “identity” often assumes as sense of ourselves and “what is not, a marking out of the ‘other’ and one’s difference” (Crossley 2005). For details see Crossley (2005).