Firhad Hakim has given a communal twist to the 2019 general election. The Bengal urban development minister and Kolkata mayor expressed his unhappiness about poll dates colliding with Ramzan.

Hakim said, "The minority population in these three states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal) is quite high. They will be casting votes while observing 'Roza'. The Election Commission should have kept this in mind." And then he delivered what he intended to say, that BJP doesn't want minorities to vote and hence 'misled' the EC to go for a 7 phase election in these three states.

Firhad Hakim, controversy's child

This influential minister who is the minority face of TMC government is also known as Bobby Hakim. Hakim is not new to communal barbs. Earlier he took pride in referring to a part of Kolkata as 'mini Pakistan'. He referred to his constituency as 'mini Pakistan' while he was giving a tour to Pakistan newspaper The Dawn's correspondent Maleeha Hamid Sidiqqui. The report was published by the newspaper and was titled 'Canvassing in 'mini-Pakistan' of Kolkata'. When grilled by the media, Hakim again took the communal route to defend himself, "Is it because I am a Muslim? this is a communal conspiracy."

Hakim not alone

It's not Hakim alone. In Uttar Pradesh, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Maulana Firangi Mehli too expressed his unhappiness at poll dates clashing with Ramzan. The Imam of the revered Lucknow-based Aishbagh Eidgah has now urged the EC to ‘respect’ the sentiments of Muslims. 
And how do you do that? By changing polling scheduled for May 6, 12 and 19.