By Shabana Javed
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s decisive victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election has created a historic political situation. For the first time since the formation of the first cabinet in undivided Bengal in 1937 under A.K. Fazlul Huq, the ruling party appears set to form a government without a single Muslim minister.
Since Independence, every West Bengal cabinet has included at least one Muslim minister. This trend continued even under Congress Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray. However, following the 2026 results, the BJP does not have any Muslim MLA in its ranks. If the cabinet is formed strictly from elected BJP legislators, the state’s largest minority community, which constitutes nearly 27% of the population, will have no direct representation in the highest decision-making body.
Muslim representation in the West Bengal Assembly has been declining over the past decade and a half. In 2011, Muslim MLAs accounted for around 20.4% of the Assembly strength. This fell to 14.7% in 2021. In the current Assembly, the number stands at 33 Muslim MLAs, approximately 11.22%, the lowest proportion since 1969.
Political analysts note that adequate representation of different sections of society in government can influence how effectively diverse concerns are addressed in policy formulation and implementation. The Indian Constitution emphasises inclusive governance, with special provisions for historically disadvantaged groups, though there is no formal religious quota for ministerial positions.
The Muslims in West Bengal have historically struggled to build a unified and influential political voice at the state level, with only a few leaders such as Ghani Khan Choudhury, Mohammed Salim, and Saifuddin Choudhury achieving prominence across party lines. The 2026 outcome has intensified debate on whether a diverse state like West Bengal can ensure equitable governance when nearly one-third of its population lacks direct representation in the ruling party’s legislative and ministerial ranks.
