NEW DELHI: Shrinking space for Muslim legislators is emerging as one of the sharpest political markers of the post-2014 era, as the BJP's expanding footprint and the opposition's changing ticket distribution strategy have together pushed minority representation down in assemblies across India.
Data shows the number of Muslim MLAs in the country has fallen from 339 in 2013 to 282 now. The decline has been steepest in states that matter most electorally. Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims account for nearly 19% of the population, now has 31 Muslim MLAs in the 403-member House, down from 63. West Bengal has seen the number fall from 59 to 37, while the figure for Bihar has dropped from 19 to 11 and for Rajasthan from 11 to 6.
While this is not only about the BJP, its nationwide rise has changed the incentive structure for elections. In many states, the party has won large mandates with very little Muslim candidature, pushing rivals to balance minority representation with broader caste and community arithmetic. In Bengal and Assam (where the BJP contested 90 seats and won 82), the BJP did not field any Muslim candidate this time, unlike in 2021 when in Bengal it had fielded nine and in Assam, eight. The Assam BJP dissolved its minority cell soon after all its Muslim candidates lost. Nationally, the BJP has only two Muslim MLAs — Achab Uddin from Manipur and Tafajjal Hossain from Tripura.
The gap is stark. In Bengal, Muslims constitute about 27% of the population but now account for only 12.6% of MLAs. In Bihar, they are nearly 17% of population but hold about 4.5% seats. In Assam, where Muslims comprise over a third of the population, their assembly share is roughly 17%. Maharashtra and Karnataka have Muslim MLA shares of only 3-4%, despite Muslim population shares of above 10%.
The Congress has the highest number of Muslim MLAs at 61, followed by the National Conference with 39, and the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party with 34 each. Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, and Tamil Nadu remain among the better represented spaces.
This decline underscores a broader trend of diminishing political representation for Muslims in India's legislative bodies, driven by electoral strategies and shifting party dynamics. The data highlights how minority representation has become a casualty in the competitive landscape of Indian politics, with implications for democratic inclusivity and community voice in governance.
About the Author: Manash Pratim Gohain is a seasoned journalist with over two decades at The Times of India, where he has built a rich body of work spanning education policy, politics, and governance. Renowned for his incisive coverage of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, accreditation reforms, and skilling initiatives, he has also reported on student politics, urban policy, and social movements. His political reportage — both reflective and news-driven — adds depth to his writing, bridging policy with public impact. Through his 2,500 articles and related outlets, he has emerged as a trusted voice in national discourse, particularly in linking education reform to broader societal change.
