UP Municipal Election 2023: Amid the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) again on the post of mayor in Ayodhya, Muslim youth Sultan Ansari won the post of councilor in the Hindu-dominated ward of the Municipal Corporation.
Ansari surprised everyone by winning the election as an independent candidate from the ward named after Mahant Ram Abhiram Das, the leader of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple movement.
Abhiram Das is known to have placed the idol of Ramlala in the Babri premises in December 1949, a few days after which the mosque was closed and since its opening in 1986 till date the same idol is being worshiped at Ram Janmabhoomi Is.
In terms of vote percentage, there are only 440 Muslim voters in this ward as against 3844 voters of the Hindu community. There were 10 candidates in the fray here. Ansari got 996 votes out of total 2388 votes, which is about 42 percent.
BJP at number three on this seat
Ansari tried his luck in the election for the first time. He defeated another independent candidate Nagendra Manjhi by a margin of 442 votes in the Hindu dominated ward near Ram Janmabhoomi. BJP stood third on this seat.
Ansari said, “This is the best example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and peaceful coexistence of both the communities in Ayodhya. He supported me and ensured my victory.
When asked if there was any reluctance to contest from a Hindu dominated area, he replied, “Since I am a resident of this area and to the best of my knowledge my forefathers were living here for more than 200 years. When I expressed my desire, my Hindu friends wholeheartedly supported me and encouraged me to move forward.
Reacting to Ansari’s victory, Anup Kumar, a local resident of the ward, said, “Those watching Ayodhya from outside wonder how there can be a Muslim in Ayodhya, but now they can see, Muslims are not only present in Ayodhya. But can also win the election.
