Azib Ahmed, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: As Maharashtra heads into its crucial 2024 assembly elections, the state’s Muslim community finds itself grappling with a longstanding issue of political underrepresentation. Despite constituting 11.54% of the state’s population, Muslims in Maharashtra continue to face challenges in securing meaningful representation in the state legislature.
The frustration is palpable, particularly as the major political alliances — the Mahavikas Aghadi or MVA (an alliance of the Shiv Sena- Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar and the Congress) and the Mahayuti (a coalition of the BJP, the Shiv Sena – Shinde, the Nationalist Congress Party – Pawar) — have allegedly denied the community its due representation.
For many within the community, the battle is not just about numbers. It is about ensuring that their voices are heard in the decisions (from local governance to broader state policies), which affect their lives.
Muslim representation in Maharashtra Assembly has historically fluctuated, with peak periods during the Congress’s dominance in the state in the late 20th century. However, the rise of the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alongside changing political alliances, has led to a steady decline in Muslim presence in the assembly.
A Brief History of Muslim Representation in State
Maharashtra’s political landscape has been primarily shaped by the Congress, the Shiv Sena and the BJP, with smaller parties occasionally shifting the balance. During the Congress’s peak, Muslim candidates were often nominated in significant numbers. It reflected the party’s efforts to build inclusive representation. However, the rise of the BJP and the Shiv Sena contributed to a noticeable decline in Muslim representation. The pattern still continues despite Muslims being an essential electoral base for several major parties.
The Current Scenario
As the state prepares for a pitched battle between the two coalitions, the MVA, which has traditionally been seen as more inclusive of minority voices, has fielded only a handful of Muslim candidates. This includes eight from the Congress, one from the NCP and just one from the Shiv Sena (UBT). On the other hand, the Mahayuti has nominated even fewer Muslims – with the BJP and the Shiv Sena (Shinde) each fielding no Muslim candidates at all.
Kaisar Khan, a 52-year-old tailor from Akot taluka in Akola district, speaks for many in the community when he says, “Every election, we hear promises, but when it comes to actual representation, they barely even put up candidates from our community. How can we trust that our issues will be addressed if we do not even have a seat at the table?”
For Khan, and many others like him, the lack of representation in the legislature is not just about politics but about practical concerns. “We fear that our issues —unemployment, small business struggles and communal harmony — will not be addressed unless we have more Muslim voices in the government,” he adds.
Will Muslim Votes Get Divided?
A significant concern for many in the community is the division of the Muslim vote, particularly in constituencies where multiple Muslim candidates are running. In areas like Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar, with a Muslim population exceeding 50%, the contest is expected to be fierce, with candidates from the Samajwadi Party, the NCP and the AIMIM vying for the community’s vote. There are growing concerns that such divisions could result in a victory for the Shiv Sena, a party that has historically had strained relations with the Muslim community.
Khan notes, “Muslims may only expect real representation in the assembly if they collectively vote for one candidate in each constituency.”
The potential for vote-splitting in multiple constituencies, including Nanded South and others, has only added to the growing sense of political fragmentation within the community.
The Feeling of Political Alienation
Shaikh Burhan, a 29-year-old engineer from Jalna district, shares a sentiment common among young Muslims in the state: a feeling of exclusion from the political process. “It is like they do not want us to be part of the process. There is a perception that our community is only needed for votes, but we are overlooked when it comes to actual participation.”
This sense of alienation has led many, particularly the younger generation, to question the sincerity of political promises. Burhan believes that with greater Muslim representation, issues like unemployment and communal harmony would receive the attention they deserve. “The low nomination of Muslim candidates raises concerns about inclusivity and fair representation.”
Community Feels Betrayed
Mujtaba Farooq, a social activist from Aurangabad, believes the Muslim community in Maharashtra has long been loyal to secular parties, voting for the Congress, the NCP and even the Shiv Sena despite its complex history. “Rather than engaging in political bargaining, Muslims have demonstrated commitment to the country’s integrity and security,” he says, reflecting the broader frustration of the community.
He further argues that the underrepresentation of Muslims in the candidate lists of both major alliances is part of a wider trend where minorities are sidelined in favor of strategic vote consolidations. “The ignorance by Mahavikas Aghadi and Mahayuti alliances shows a lack of concern for the community. This approach could eventually backfire on these parties,” he warns.
He urges the Muslim community to reconsider its support for the MVA and look beyond traditional alliances. “Muslims should now aim to support parties or independent candidates who truly advocate for the rights of their community,” he advises.
Long Fight for Justice
Ulka Mahajan, a political activist from Mumbai, expresses concern over the systemic underrepresentation of Muslims despite their sizable population. She stresses that this is not just a numbers game, but a matter of justice. “The fight for fair representation is grounded in justice, and while it cannot be achieved all at once, the immediate goal is to unseat the BJP,” she says.
However, she acknowledges that this is part of a broader, long-term struggle to preserve democracy and ensure fair representation for all communities, including Muslims.
Mahajan recalls a time when the Constituent Assembly, despite Muslims comprising just 10% of India’s population, allocated 13% of the seats to Muslim representatives — a time when the principle of fair representation was not just an ideal but a reality. “We need to return to that kind of fair representation,” she says, calling for a more inclusive political framework.
A Community in Search of Recognition
For many Muslims in Maharashtra, the fight for political representation transcends electoral numbers. It is a fight for inclusion, for recognition and for a voice in shaping the policies that impact their everyday lives. As the state enters the 2024 election cycle, the demand for fair representation has never been more urgent.
Arif Naseem Khan, vice president of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, acknowledges the community’s frustrations. “Besides the five seats for Muslim candidates in Mumbai, we have also nominated Muslims from Nanded, Solapur and Akola. Unfortunately, due to the alliance, we cannot field more candidates.”
While Khan argues that the MVA’s nominations are fair, he urges Muslims to avoid vote splitting and to support the alliance as a unified front. However, for many in the community, the question remains: is mere numerical representation enough, or is it time for a deeper reckoning with political inclusion in Maharashtra?
In the coming days, the electorate will determine whether Muslim voices in Maharashtra Assembly will continue to be sidelined or whether they will rise to play a more prominent role in the future of the state’s politics.