Battle of the Bastions: In Kerala's Malappuram, BJP's lone Muslim candidate walks a rocky political road

In the 18 Lok Sabha elections for Mallapuram constituency in Kerala, including the bypolls, the Indian Union Muslim League has won 17 times. The constituency is a textbook example of a bastion or stronghold for a particular political party, in this case the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The BJP has fielded former Calicut University Vice Chancellor Dr Abdul Salam as its candidate, the lone Muslim candidate from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party which is seeking re-election for a third term in a row.

BJP's Abdul Salam is up againt IUML'sE. T. Mohammed Basheer and V Vaseef of Communist Party of India (Maoist).

As Mallapuram goes to polls, WION interviewed Dr Abdul Salam and asked him about the saffron party's prospects in the IUML bastion and beyond.

Below are the edited excerpts:

1. The BJP is confident that it will win double-digit seats in Kerala. Do you agree with this assessment?

Abdul Salam: I am unable to make such predictions. There is possibility of opening account. The number, you know... It is premature to make such predictions. But I hear numbers rising from three to five seats, as predicted by many people.

2. Where do you see your Mallapuram seat right now?

Abdul Salam: Mallapuram is a very difficult seat, with a five per cent as our party vote share. One good thing is that after completing 50days of campaign, the survey suggests that our present vote share has already gone up to 22 per cent.

This is a double difficult or triple difficult place. Anti-BJP community dominated place, 70 per cent Muslim. Don't expect a positive answer from me immediately. I am seeing excellent signatures of positivity but I am unable to predict the extent or magnitude of that.

3. How much Modi factor is working in Kerala and Tamil Nadu this time?

Abdul Salam:I tell you not only in Kerala but all of India, Modi factor is working very well, including the South. If at all, if one person is winning from Kerala; hypothetical, I would attribute 95 per cent of that positivity come from the Modi factor. That is the value, acceptance and respect people have for Modi.

4. You are the only Muslim candidate from the BJP. The BJP is accused of not fielding Muslim candidates for Lok Sabha evenin big states like Uttar Pradesh. So how do you see this?

Abdul Salam:It is a political accusation or accusation by enemies. See Modi ji is not selecting candidates based on considerations that they feel important. Modi ji has a philosophy of selection... You know what are the parameters. He normally considers, number 1, it's the winnability of the candidate, coupled with that he looks at the performance and his ability to make a reform in the constituency. The third one, is the intelligence and education of the candidate. Fourth one is that if character is there, commitment is there, dedication to the constituency and dedication to the people or his mindset to serve the people is very very important for Modi ji. He also attaches importance to the person who is committed to the nation with a nationalistfeeling. So these are the factors Modi ji considers with a greater emphasis on the ability to perform.

5. You have been a career educationist and now you have donned a politician's hat. What is the difference between the two?

Abdul Salam:There is tremendous difference. (inaudible) I am unable to acquire the traits of a politician after completing over nine-ten years of closely working with this party.

6. There are places in Kerala where the Left and Congress are contesting against each other but they are part of larger INDI alliance elsewhere. How do you see that contradiction working out in Kerala? Is it working for the BJP or against the BJP?

Abdul Salam:People know what is this INDI alliance. They (INDI alliance) are unable to come together with a single thread. So much of contradiction. What is their interest? Their primary interest is to push down Modi ji, occupy the seat of power and compete witheach other for robbing the public's money. They have no interest like Modi ji. Modi ji's 10years, you see. Eighteen hours a day. All these 10 years, he has been working hard for developing the nation and developing the people. Can you find one single person who possess at least 10per cent of the traits or Modi ji? Or five per cent of the traits of Modi ji. Of the commitment and intelligence of Modi ji. The combination of mission, action and execution of Modi ji. Tell me one person among the 26 (leaders of INDI alliance). They are a group formed to rob India. That is what was happening all these years before. Now people understand that there is a leader who can do wonders in such a short span of time.

7. Your message for India's first-time voters

Abdul Salam:First thing to the youth. You are fortunate to have such a fortunate, wonderful, admirable, miracle-like... committed prime minister. He is making a new India for you, for your betterment. For your quality of life. Be with him. Support him. Join the process of making a new India with a visionary Modi ji. Otherwise you are killing yourself,and it will be a suicide. If you want to develop with the visionary experience of Modi ji, be with him. That is the only way.