Community members say the political system is pushing them out despite their large population in many regions
NEW DELHI – Bihar has entered a worrying phase of political imbalance as the 2025 assembly election results reveal the lowest Muslim representation in 20 years. Out of 243 seats, only 11 Muslim candidates have succeeded, leaving much of the community feeling shut out of the state’s decision-making spaces.
While the National Democratic alliance (NDA) celebrated a sweeping victory with 201 seats, the outcome has brought pain and disappointment to many Muslim voters who say they are being pushed further to the margins.
The steady decline has shocked community members. In 2015, Bihar had 24 Muslim MLAs. In 2020, the count fell to 19. Now, in the 2025 results, the number has crashed to just 11. Political observers describe this as a dangerous signal for a state with a significant Muslim population spread across districts such as Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, Purnea and parts of Patna.
Arshad Nomani, a Patna-based social worker, expressed deep concern. He said, “This is not only a fall in numbers; it shows how Muslim voices are being pushed out at a time when they need representation more than ever,” he said.
Among the few who managed to enter the assembly this time are candidates from several parties, but the numbers remain painfully small. Only one Muslim candidate from the JD-U, two from the RJD, one from the Congress and five from the AIMIM have reached the assembly, with one more winning independently from Dhaka. Many other Muslim candidates lost by very narrow margins, which has left their supporters frustrated and worried about a system they feel is not designed to let them succeed.
Independent winner Faisal Rahman from Dhaka said, “People trusted me, but the larger political picture is clear. It is becoming harder for Muslims to reach the assembly. The gap is growing instead of closing.”
Shrinking Space
Past election data shows how quickly the space for Muslims in Bihar’s politics has shrunk. In the 2020 elections, 19 Muslim MLAs were elected from different parties, with the RJD sending eight, AIMIM five, Congress four, BSP one and CPI-ML one. In 2015, the state elected 24 Muslim MLAs, with the RJD sending 12, Congress six, JDU five and CPI-ML one. In 2010, 19 Muslim MLAs won, including seven from the JDU, six from the RJD, three from the LJP, two from the Congress and even one from the BJP. In 2005, the number stood at 16. These figures show a clear downward slide that cannot be ignored.
Many Muslims in Bihar say that political parties come to their neighbourhoods seeking votes but hesitate to field Muslim candidates in seats where they have a strong chance of winning. In Kishanganj, a young voter, Rukaiya Parveen, expressed her disappointment. She said, “It seems our votes matter during elections, but our voice does not matter after that. How can only 11 people speak for so many of us?”
Her words echo the anguish of many who feel that their presence in the assembly is being reduced by design.
Activists point out that the decline is not accidental. They believe major parties deliberately reduced the number of Muslim candidates or placed them in seats where victory was unlikely.
AIMIM leader Akhtarul Iman, who won again this year, said, “The door is slowly closing on Muslims in Bihar’s politics. This is not good for democracy and not good for the state.” His warning reflects a growing frustration across several districts, where people fear that important local issues may now receive less attention.
Long-term Consequences
Experts warn that when representation falls so sharply, it has long-term consequences on welfare, education, safety and development in Muslim-majority regions. Prof S Haider from Patna University explained the situation clearly. He said, “When only a small number of MLAs speak for such a large population, it affects policies and the sense of trust people have in the system.” The drop, he said, could weaken the link between the community and the state government.
Across Bihar, Muslim families say they fear their concerns will go unheard in the new assembly. In Muzaffarpur, shopkeeper Shamsuddin voiced the fear of many. He said, “We want peace and progress like everyone else. But if we are almost missing from the assembly, who will raise our issues?” His worry captures the mood of several towns where people were hoping for a stronger voice, not a weaker one.
As Bihar moves forward under the new government, the numbers speak for themselves. Muslim political participation has reached its weakest point in two decades. Many now believe that unless political parties rethink their approach and give Muslim candidates a fair chance, the gap will continue to widen, leaving a large part of Bihar’s population without a real voice in the assembly.
