The Bihar caste survey (2023) showed that Muslims form 17.7% of the state’s population, nearly 2.3 crore people. Yet, Muslim representation in power has stayed below 10% for decades. The last time it crossed 10% was in 1985, when 34 of 324 MLAs were Muslims. Since then, political presence has weakened.
Muslim voters play a crucial role in around 50–70 constituencies. This influence makes every party keen to attract them, but ticket distribution often remains limited. Historically, Muslims backed Congress, but dissatisfaction over governance led many to shift towards RJD, JD(U), and at times BJP.
The Bhagalpur riots of 1989 pushed Muslims further away from Congress, reshaping Bihar’s politics. Leaders like Syed Shahnawaz Hussain once gave BJP a Muslim face, but overall representation continued to fall. In the current Assembly, only 19 MLAs are Muslims, far below their population share.
Experts note that despite being a decisive vote bank, Muslims are not offered proportionate tickets. Even reserved seats are underutilized for Muslim candidates. Activists argue that until fair participation is ensured, the community will remain politically marginalized. This gap between numbers and power is now a major debate ahead of Bihar elections.
