For the last thirty years, the representation of Muslims in the Bihar Assembly has continually been less than their proportionate share of the population. Data from eight elections since 1990 indicates that Muslims make up 17.7% of Bihar’s 13.07 crore residents, yet their average representation in the legislature has only been about 8%. The highest level of representation, 9.87%, occurred during the February 2005 and 2015 elections, while the lowest was recorded at 5.55% in 1990. In the 2020 elections, 19 Muslim MLAs were elected, primarily from the RJD, along with AIMIM and Congress, representing 7.81% of the 243-member assembly. Despite fielding 11 Muslim candidates, the JD(U) did not have any wins that year.
As the 2025 elections approach, major parties have again restricted Muslim nominations: the RJD has nominated 18, Congress 10, CPI(ML) Liberation two, and JD(U) only four. AIMIM, traditionally focused on Muslim representation, is contesting 25 seats with 23 Muslim candidates. This trend highlights a continuing disparity between the community’s demographic presence and its political representation in the Bihar Assembly, raising concerns regarding inclusive leadership in the state.
