Congress Muslim Leaders Voice Unease Over Party's 'Measured Silence' on Community Issues
Internal discord within the Congress party has surfaced as several Muslim leaders express growing unease over the party's perceived silence on issues concerning the Muslim community. This comes at a time when the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has made significant electoral gains, intensifying concerns about the Congress ceding political space to regional players.
AIMIM's Electoral Gains Fuel Internal Criticism
The improved performance of AIMIM in the Bihar Assembly polls last year and the recent municipal corporation elections in Maharashtra has triggered alarm bells within the Congress. Senior and former party leaders from the Muslim community have openly criticized the top leadership for maintaining a cautious stance, which they argue is alienating their core support base.
Over the past week, one former and two senior Congress leaders raised these issues publicly, leading to sharp rebukes from within the party. Congress Lok Sabha whip Manickam Tagore labeled the critics as "jaichands (traitors)", highlighting the deepening rift.
Shakeel Ahmad's Blunt Accusations Against Rahul Gandhi
Former Union Minister Shakeel Ahmad, a three-term MLA and two-time MP who left the party in 2025, sparked controversy by calling Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi "insecure" and "scared". Ahmad alleged that the Congress has systematically ignored its Muslim leaders, contributing to their marginalization.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Ahmad stated, "While I think Owaisi doesn't help the cause of Muslim representation, there are takers for his politics among the community. I have always maintained that the Congress should take a secular line and not be scared to speak on Muslim issues." He pointed to a section of leaders who have convinced the party high command that addressing Muslim issues could jeopardize Hindu votes.
Electoral Setbacks and Strategic Concerns
The Bihar Assembly elections revealed troubling trends for the Congress. In the Muslim-dominated Seemanchal region, the NDA secured 14 out of 24 constituencies, while the Opposition Mahagathbandhan managed only five seats. AIMIM retained its five seats, mirroring its 2020 performance. Post-results, the Bihar Congress leadership internally flagged concerns that top party leaders are avoiding Muslim-centric issues.
During the election run-up, CPI(M-L) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya urged the Mahagathbandhan to address cases like the denial of bail to Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, but the Congress opted for silence.
Rahul Gandhi's Rhetorical Avoidance Highlighted
A Muslim leader from the All India Congress Committee (AICC) noted, "If you hear Rahul Gandhi's speeches, then you will realise that he never uses the word 'Muslim' in his speeches. Meanwhile, he goes on talking about the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities." This observation underscores a strategic shift that has left many within the party uneasy.
Maharashtra Leaders Point to Civic Poll Failures
Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Husain Dalwai recently dubbed AIMIM the "B team" of the BJP, attributing its success in the civic polls to the Congress's failure to stand firmly with Muslims. Dalwai, a former Rajya Sabha MP, remarked, "It is the Congress's mistake. The party is ignoring Muslims, and that is why Muslims are also ignoring the Congress." He emphasized that the eight wards won by AIMIM in Mumbai could have potentially gone to the Congress, which secured only 24 seats in the 227-member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Shrinking Space for Muslim Leaders Within Congress
Former Rajya Sabha MP Raashid Alvi raised alarms about the exit of several Muslim Congress leaders, warning that continued neglect could strengthen figures like Owaisi. Alvi explained, "The Muslim leaders are not power hungry. Also, they don't have any space within the BJP so they can't go there. Then, why are they leaving Congress? It is because the space for Muslim leaders in the party is shrinking."
Alvi acknowledged Rahul Gandhi's mass appeal but criticized the party's failure to nurture first and second-rung leadership from the Muslim community. He cited the departures of leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Naseemuddin Siddiqui as evidence of this decline.
Perceived Double Standards in Issue Advocacy
A Muslim leader from the Uttar Pradesh Congress highlighted a perceived double standard: "If a Hindu man drowns in Noida or temples are demolished in Varanasi, the whole Congress ecosystem speaks in one voice. But if a man is lynched, or if a group is arrested for something as basic as offering namaz on a private property in a group or a mosque is demolished in Delhi, the Congress high command keeps quiet." This silence, they argue, pushes the community towards Owaisi, who vocally champions constitutional rights.
Defenders Argue for Strategic Caution
Amid the criticism, some within the party defend the Congress's approach. A Muslim AICC leader from Maharashtra argued, "The party can't afford to be branded as a Muslim party, which the BJP has been doing. The party's silence is measured and will benefit the Muslim community in the long run. The Muslim community alone can't ensure a win for any party. Then, how can the Congress focus on the community and antagonise the Hindu community?" This perspective underscores the delicate balancing act the party faces in its electoral strategy.
The ongoing debate within the Congress reflects broader tensions in Indian politics, where identity-based mobilization and secular appeals are increasingly in conflict. As AIMIM consolidates its gains, the Congress's ability to address these internal concerns while maintaining a broad-based appeal will be critical in the upcoming electoral battles.
