By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Muslims improved their representation in the next Gujarat legislative assembly. Five Muslims were able to win their seats thus improving from last assembly when Muslim representation was three.
Iqbal Patel of Vagra (winning margin: 4330), Sabirbhai Kabliwla of Jamalpur (winning margin: 18909), Faruk Shaikh of Kalupur (winning margin: 7512), Shaikh Gyasuddin Habibuddin of Shahpur (winning margin: 922), Pirzada Mahmadjavid Abdulmutlib of Wankaner (winning margin: 18103) were able to win from their constituencies. All winning on Congress tickets.
Another Muslim candidate Dr. Babi Shehnaz Amanullakhan, lost Junagadh with a margin of 30987 votes .
There were only 3 Muslims in the last 182-member Assembly, all belonging to the Congress. Mohammad Faruk Hussain Miyan Shaikh of Kalupur (Ahmedabad) and Rashida Iqbal Patel of Vagra (Bharuch), Devadiwala Usmangani Ismailbhai of Jamalpur. In 2002, the Congres put up two more Muslim candidates, Rayma Haji Juma Haji Ebrahim of Abdasa and Peerzada Mahmad Javid Abdul Mutleeb of Wankaner lost their elections that year.