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In any election it is generally believed Muslims will vote for the Congress. Not this time. The message that community leaders are sending out ahead of Tuesday’s election is clear: ‘Don’t take us for granted. We may not vote at all.’

From Ahmedabad’s Muslim areas of Juhapura, Bapunagar, Naroda Patiya, and Jamalpur, the same message is being tolled out to the Congress — and it is worrying the party for the threat seems real for the following reasons:

For the first time in several years, the Muslim clergy hasn’t appealed to the community to vote for the Congress. In fact, in Ahmedabad no Muslim leader has made any sort of election appeal this time.

Even when appeals have been made—in other parts of the state—elders have only said the community should just vote, leaving out the Congress from the message.

People in Juhapura, Bapunagar, Naroda Patiya, and parts of Saurashtra, such as Jamnagar, Veraval, Dhoraji and Rajkot, have taken umbrage that Congress candidates didn’t campaign in Muslim areas. The refrain is that the Congress should be taught a lesson for taking them for granted.

The Bohra Muslims, who average the highest polling percentage in every election, have decided that they will vote, but not necessarily for the Congress. It is learnt that message from their head, the Syedna, is simple: ‘Vote.’ However, Bohra leaders in Ahmedabad and Rajkot declined comment.

‘‘It’s unfortunate that several sections of our community have decided not to vote at all,’’ says J.V. Momim, chairman of Ahmedabad’s tazia committee. ‘‘This is worrying, for it is our duty to vote, irrespective of which party we vote for.’’

The committee has issued an appeal that Muslims must vote, but avoids mentioning any party by name.

Says Momim, ‘‘Apparently, people have all decided not to vote for the Congress any more. The situation is the same, whether in Jamnagar, Rajkot, Surat, or Ahmedabad. We want them to at least come out and vote, and it’s for this reason we are distributing pamphlets carrying the appeal across the state.’’

The indifference of the community was evident in Juhapura, where even the final day of campaign saw little activity. This angers people like Shakeel Ahmed, head of the legal cell of the Islamic Relief Committee, which helps riot victims.

‘‘The Congress seems to be taking us for granted. It hasn’t even opened an election office. No campaign vehicles, no leaders, no public meetings,’’ he says. ‘‘If they think we’ll vote for them, they are mistaken. Mark my words: many people would rather sit at home rather than choose the lesser of the evils.’’ Iqbal Hawa, an advocate at Gujarat High Court, says, ‘‘Muslims seem to be least bothered. On the other hand, parties have taken us for granted and not even campaigned. Many haven’t received poll slips telling us where we must vote.’’

And Mohammed Shafi Madni, a Muslim leader from Modasa town of north Gujarat, says: ‘‘Dar lag raha hai. There’ll be little voting. There’s lack of interest. Besides the sense of mission, seen during the assembly elections, is missing and so is a consensus on which party to vote for. All that the clergy says is, Soch samajh key vote karna.’’

In Naroda Patiya, which saw one of the worst massacres of Muslims post-Godhra, relief worker Hanifbhai Babubhai is confused. ‘‘I’ve lived here so long but am unable to judge the mood of the people this time. They’re simply not interested, not even bothered there’s an election on Tuesday. And since there are no appeals I don’t think people will go out and vote.’’

Ishaq Sheikh, administrative head of the Al Amin Hospital, put it succinctly: ‘‘Muslims may well create a record in low voter turnout. There’ll be a few surprises for the Congress.’’