Bihar Assembly Polls: Just 34 Muslim Candidates Fielded Despite 17.7% Population Share

Political parties have allotted only 34 Muslim candidates for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, even though Muslims make up 17.7% of the state’s population.

• Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD): Fielded 18 Muslim candidates out of 143 (12.58%), slightly higher than the 15 Muslims it nominated in 2020.

• Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)]: Gave tickets to 4 Muslims out of 101 (3.96%), down from 10 in 2020.

• Congress: Nominated 10 Muslim candidates out of 61.

• Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): Did not field any Muslim candidates, while ally Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) gave one ticket.

• Jan Suraaj Party: Promised 40 Muslim candidates but allotted 21 tickets.

Muslims constitute over 20% of the population in 87 constituencies, with roughly 75% concentrated in northern Bihar.

Community Leaders Voice Discontent
A gathering of Muslim leaders in Patna expressed frustration over the limited representation. Anwarul Hooda, one of the attendees, said, “It was an informal meeting. We will meet again, but at the same time, we do not have an option.”

Congress leader Ali Anwar added, “The parties are afraid of polarisation if more Muslims are fielded. All our talk of representation as per population has gone for a toss. These secular parties are afraid of whom? But in the interest of the nation and to support secular forces, we will continue our support to the RJD-led alliance.”

The Adl-O-Insaf Front had last year passed a resolution highlighting that Muslims account for 12–42% of voters in at least 15 of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, with Kishanganj alone having 68% Muslim voters.

Historical Perspective
Muslim representation in Bihar’s assembly has historically been low:

• Never crossed 10% of members except in 1985.

• Abdul Ghafoor remains the state’s only Muslim chief minister, serving less than two years in the 1970s.

• Since 1952, only 390 Muslims (7.8% of total) have been elected to the assembly.

• In 1985, 34 Muslim lawmakers were elected to the 324-member undivided Bihar assembly.

• In 2020, only 19 Muslims were elected to the 243-seat assembly.

This underrepresentation continues to fuel concerns about equitable political participation for the Muslim community in Bihar.