– Abdul Bari Masoud
New Delhi, June 6: Extending heartfelt congratulations to the leaders of the INDIA bloc for their remarkable victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the civil society group Indian Muslims for Civil Rights (IMCR) highlighted the crucial role played by Muslim voters in this success.
Addressing a press conference, former Union Minister Salman Khurshid stated that the election results demonstrated Narendra Modi’s political and moral defeat. Khurshid noted that both the BJP’s overall tally and Modi’s victory margin decreased significantly, with the latter’s margin shrinking from over 400,000 to 150,000 votes, while his deputy, Amit Shah, secured a larger margin. Khurshid emphasized that the electorate has clearly rejected the politics of hate and polarization. He also revealed that the decision to overlook Muslim candidates by secular parties was strategic, citing his own sacrifice of his seat as an example.
IMCR Chairman and former MP Mohammed Adeeb praised Muslim voters for their strategic support of INDIA candidates. He noted that Muslim voters, often criticized for voting along religious lines, turned out in large numbers to support INDIA candidates, prioritizing democratic values over religious identities. Adeeb cited Moradabad, as an example, where the Samajwadi Party’s Ruchi Verma won by over 100,000 votes despite the party dropping the incumbent Muslim MP, ST Hasan.
Despite the celebration, Adeeb expressed concern over the dwindling political representation of the Muslim community. Indian Muslims, who comprise more than 14% of the population according to the 2011 Census, have been historically underrepresented in Parliament. Proportionately, there should be around 75 Muslim MPs, but the number has remained around 25 in recent elections.
In the new Parliament, the number of Muslim MPs remains at 25. The Congress party, the main opposition, gave only 19 tickets to Muslim candidates. Despite having sizable Muslim populations in states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, there will be no Muslim MPs representing these states, a concern for parties claiming to be secular.
Dr. Saiyda Syedain Hameed, former Member of the Planning Commission, remarked on the consolidation of Muslim votes in this election. She noted that Muslim voters managed to counteract previous patterns of divided ballots, despite the INDIA bloc dropping Muslim candidates in several constituencies.
Advocate Fuzail Ahmed Ayubi also addressed the media, emphasizing the key takeaways from the election as outlined by ICMR:
- Rejection of Religious Politics through Positive Voting:
– Muslim voters disapproved of candidates and issues based on religious identities, supporting the INDIA bloc for its democratic values.
– They prioritized saving the constitution and democracy over religious considerations.
- Support for Constitutional Values:
– Despite facing discriminatory remarks and policies, Muslim voters remained focused on supporting the Constitution and Indian democracy.
– They ignored provocations and voted en masse to uphold the idea of India and its democratic legacy.
- Increased Political Consciousness:
– Events like the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand, and the hijab issue in Karnataka have heightened political awareness among Muslim voters.
– This trend of increased voter participation and trust in democratic processes is expected to continue in future elections.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections mark a significant shift in voting patterns, with Muslim voters emerging as decisive and conscientious stakeholders in Indian democracy. Their positive voting has played a crucial role in the success of the INDIA bloc, reinforcing the values of the Constitution and democratic governance.
IMCR also acknowledged the pivotal contributions of leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Lalu Prasad Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Thiru MK Stalin, Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, and Arvind Kejriwal in this achievement.
