Despite this electoral success, the BJP’s overall policies toward Muslims remain a subject of concern
Team Clarion
AHMEDABAD — The number of Muslim candidates winning on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tickets in Gujarat’s local body elections has significantly increased, a development that has unsettled secular opposition parties, including the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The BJP fielded 103 Muslim candidates across various local bodies this time, out of which a majority secured victories, including 33 women. The party achieved an overwhelming win in the Gujarat municipal elections, securing 1,608 of the 1,712 seats across municipalities, municipal corporations, district panchayats, and taluka panchayats.
A key highlight of this victory is the increasing success of Muslim candidates on BJP tickets in at least 66 municipalities. According to a report in The Indian Express, Muslim candidates played a decisive role in districts such as Pattan, Kheda, Panchmahal, and Junagadh, where the BJP had previously struggled to make inroads. This election marked a stark contrast, as BJP candidates, primarily Muslims, secured victories in these regions.
However, despite this electoral success, the BJP’s overall policies toward Muslims remain a subject of concern. Critics argue that the party’s ideological stance and past policies have been largely exclusionary. Incidents of communal tensions and controversial laws such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) raise questions about the party’s true intent toward the Muslim community. Many view the BJP’s selective fielding of Muslim candidates as a mere electoral strategy rather than genuine inclusivity.
In municipalities, the total number of Muslim candidates elected rose from 252 in 2018 to 275 in this election. The BJP secured approximately 28% of these seats, while Congress remained the dominant choice in Muslim-majority areas with a 39% share. However, the BJP’s growing presence among Muslim voters is notable, closing the gap with Congress. Meanwhile, AAP managed to win 7% of the Muslim-represented seats, with 13 of its Muslim candidates emerging victorious — 11 of them from the Salaya Municipality in Jamnagar.
The increasing number of Muslim BJP winners has sparked discussions about the party’s evolving strategy and its impact on Gujarat’s political landscape. “This election has demonstrated a shift in political alignments, and the BJP’s outreach among Muslim voters seems to be yielding results,” political analyst Rajneesh Kumar commented. However, others remain sceptical, pointing out that beyond elections, the BJP’s governance has often been marked by policies that marginalise Muslims.
