Jaipur, March 29: As the political landscape in Rajasthan gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the absence of Muslim representation in the candidate lists released by both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress has sparked concerns within the Muslim community. Despite constituting a significant portion of the electorate, Muslims find themselves sidelined in the political arena, raising questions about inclusivity and representation.
With the release of six lists covering 24 seats by the BJP and five lists covering equivalent seats by the Congress, political experts note the glaring absence of Muslim candidates. Despite constituting at least 10% of the vote share and holding considerable electoral influence in approximately 10 Lok Sabha seats and 100 assembly seats, Muslims in Rajasthan have found no representation in the crucial upcoming elections.
The frustration within the Muslim community has led to objections raised by Congress leaders, who have historically relied on Muslim support. As reported, Amin Khan, a former cabinet minister and senior Congress leader, voiced the sentiments of many within the community, stating, “The Muslim community, which has always stood strong with the Congress, is feeling betrayed and marginalized.” Khan’s concerns echo the sentiments of many Muslims who feel neglected in the distribution of tickets for the Lok Sabha elections. He urged the party leadership to address this issue promptly to prevent significant damage to the party’s prospects in the elections.
Political experts note that while the BJP has historically refrained from nominating Muslim candidates for Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, the Congress has had a trend of fielding Muslim candidates in general elections. However, the absence of Muslim representation in both parties’ candidate lists reflects a broader issue of underrepresentation and marginalization.
In response, BJP’s state minority cell president, Hamid Khan Mewati, defended the party’s stance, stating that ticket allocation is not the sole determinant of the party’s commitment to the minority community. Mewati highlighted the government’s initiatives aimed at the economic, educational, and social advancement of individuals within the Muslim community, expressing confidence that Muslims would support the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections.
