LUCKNOW: Unlike previous elections, most Muslim leaders in UP have so far stayed away from making controversial comments, holding protests and issuing fatwas.Chiefs of various ‘tanzims’ (organisations), including All India Muslim Personal Law Board and seminaries of Nadwa in Lucknow and Deoband, have maintained a studied silence even as elections have moved to the Muslim-dominated constituencies of Rohilkhand Also, missing in the action this time is the Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari , who is known to make political moves during elections. Known for its frequent controversial appeals, the Deoband in Saharanpur hasn’t issued any fatwas recently.The verbal duels between SP candidate Azam Khan and BJP nominee Jaya Prada in Rampur are seen as a clash of personalities, and not on communal lines.Muslims, comprising nearly 19% the electorate in UP, seem to have changed their strategy to thwart attempts of consolidation of Hindu votes. In the 2014 LS and 2017 assembly elections, BJP won decisively. The community didn’t have a single MP from the state in five years.“In the last two years, we have worked across India so that Muslims don’t fall into the trap of any provocation,” said Zafar Sareshwala, a key functionary of many ‘tanzims’ who is considered close to PM Modi. “No Muslim leaders made controversial remarks during an RSS gathering in Ayodhya in November 2018. They have been told to vote like a Hindustani.”Community members have behaved maturely during campaigning, said AIMPLB member Zafaryab Jilani. “Despite provocations by BJP leaders, it’s good to see the community not reacting in the same language”.