New Delhi. This time the representation of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha is going to increase as compared to the last 10 years. This time 28 Muslim MPs have been elected to the Lok Sabha. However, this time the parties gave tickets to fewer Muslims as compared to the last time.
In 2019, 26 Muslim MPs were elected to the Lok Sabha. This time this number has increased by 2. In the year 2014, 22 Muslim MPs were elected. This time the opposition alliance fielded only 78 Muslim candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. The Samajwadi Party, which is accused of being pro-Muslim, its president Akhilesh Yadav also gave tickets to only 4 Muslims. These include mafia don Mukhtar Ansari’s brother Afzal Ansari. Whereas, SP fielded 8 Muslim candidates in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On the other hand, if we talk about the ruling alliance, BJP gave tickets to 1 Muslim candidate and Nitish Kumar’s party JDU gave tickets to 1 Muslim candidate for the Lok Sabha elections.
In the democratic history of India, the highest number of 49 Muslim MPs were elected in 1980. Since then their number has been decreasing. Especially since 2014 when the BJP government came to power at the centre, the parties are giving less preference to Muslim candidates. Whereas, if we look at the results of this Lok Sabha election, it is clear that Muslims voted in large numbers for the candidates of the opposition alliance. Even before the BJP, Muslims have been distancing themselves. This time in the Lok Sabha elections, they have distanced themselves further from the BJP. The major reason for this is believed to be the promise of bringing UCC by the BJP and the rumour of changes in the constitution.