6 months ago
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The precocious concluded 2025 Bihar Assembly elections stood retired for galore things — the NDA’s sweeping win, years of pro-incumbency, cash-for-transfer schemes, and a weakened opposition, among others. Another defining diagnostic of this Election is that the State, which has a important Muslim population, is present acceptable to person its lowest fig of Muslim legislators since 2000.
The fig of elected Muslim MLAs successful Bihar has fallen to 11 successful 2025, the lowest successful years and a 42% diminution from the 2020 Assembly election, erstwhile 19 Muslim legislators were elected.
Muslims marque up 17.7% of Bihar’s population, according to the 2022 Bihar Caste Census. While they person historically been underrepresented successful the State Assembly, accounting for little than 10% of its members, this predetermination marks a caller low, with their beingness successful the 243-member House dropping to conscionable 4.5%.
Five of the 10 Muslim MLAs were fielded by the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). This is followed by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Indian National Congress, with 3 and 2 Muslim elected representatives respectively. Md. Zama Khan from Janata Dal (United) is the sole Muslim MLA from the winning alliance.
One crushed for the reduced fig of Muslim MLAs could beryllium the spoiler effect caused by AIMIM successful constituencies wherever it failed to triumph but divided the vote.
Another origin could beryllium the reduced fig of Muslim candidates contesting the 2025 election. An investigation of candidates who contested this year’s Bihar elections shows that Muslims made up lone 11.8% of the full campaigner pool. This stock drops further to 7.6% erstwhile independents are excluded, reflecting lone Muslim candidates fielded by governmental parties.
