Lucknow, June 13: Muslim voters, constituting a significant 19% of Uttar Pradesh’s population and pivotal in a dozen Lok Sabha constituencies, decisively rallied behind the INDIA bloc during the 2024 elections.
The community showed unprecedented solidarity by overwhelmingly supporting candidates from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress alliance, despite calls from BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, urging them to consider their future generations before voting.
Statistics reveal that all 20 Muslim candidates fielded by Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) faced defeat, securing only a fraction of the votes. In contrast, the INDIA bloc’s Muslim candidates achieved an impressive 83% success rate. Notably, all four SP candidates and one of the two Congress candidates emerged victorious.
Key victories included Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, securing the seat previously held by the BSP, and Imran Masood of the Congress from Saharanpur, a constituency with a substantial Muslim electorate. Other successful candidates include Mohibullah Nadvi from Rampur, Iqra Hasan from Kairana, and Zia-ur-Rehman from Sambhal, each representing constituencies with Muslim populations exceeding 40%.
The strategic placement of Muslim candidates by the INDIA bloc in high-Muslim population areas proved effective, with notable exceptions such as Ghazipur, where Afzal Ansari triumphed despite lower Muslim voter concentration.
The outcome of these elections underscores the shifting political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh and raises questions about the future electoral strategies of the BJP, particularly in light of the state’s upcoming leadership prospects.
