Patna: The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has strongly criticised the INDIA bloc for naming RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav as its chief ministerial candidate and Mukesh Sahani of the Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as the deputy chief ministerial nominee. The party called the move “hypocrisy,” highlighting the neglect of Bihar’s nearly 18% Muslim population.
Uttar Pradesh AIMIM president Shaukat Ali questioned the alliance’s decision, saying that while the 2% Sahani community and the 13% Yadav community received top political positions, the 18% Muslim community was left unacknowledged. “If the one with 2% becomes the deputy CM, and the one with 13% becomes the CM, will the one with 18% lay carpet for them?” he said.
Muslims make up around 17.7% of Bihar’s population and hold decisive voting power in nearly 47 assembly constituencies. Despite this, AIMIM leaders argued, the community has been sidelined in major political deals.
AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan added that the INDIA bloc’s slogan of equal participation based on population strength was hollow. “What did the 18% Muslims get? Is the Muslim community there only to vote for them?” he asked. Pathan said the AIMIM’s fight in Bihar aims to challenge political injustice and corruption, urging voters to see through what he called selective representation.AIMIM, Bihar politics, Tejashwi Yadav, Muslim representation, INDIA bloc
