Parties have allotted just 34 Muslim tickets for Bihar polls despite the community being 17.7% of the state; RJD fields 18, BJP none — implications analysed.
Bihar Polls Dynamics
Political parties contesting the Bihar Polls have named just 34 Muslim candidates across the state — a figure that has prompted anger and concern among community leaders who say ticket distribution does not reflect demographic weight or electoral logic. Muslims make up 17.7% of Bihar’s population, yet their representation among candidates is far lower than parity would suggest.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leads the pack among major parties, naming 18 Muslim nominees out of 143 candidates, while the Congress has given tickets to 10 from its 61-candidate list. The ruling JD(U) allocated just four Muslim tickets out of 101, down from 10 in 2020, and the BJP has not given any Muslim tickets; its ally LJP (RV) named one. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party pledged 40 Muslim candidates earlier but fielded 21. These distribution choices have fuelled accusations that mainstream parties are shying away from giving more tickets for fear of polarisation or local backlash.
Muslim leaders point out that 87 assembly segments have over 20% Muslim voters, mostly concentrated in northern Bihar, where even small shifts can change outcomes. The limited slate of Muslim candidates risks undercutting turnout and local mobilisation in those critical seats, and could fragment secular votes if voters feel under-represented. A recent gathering of community leaders in Patna expressed resentment and warned of sustained protests unless parties revisit their selections.
