Elections 2014: Muslim representation to be low in next Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The 16th Lok Sabha will have one of the lowest representation for Muslims with just about 20 of them emerging victorious in the Lok Sabha polls in the wake of the saffron surge in the north and western parts of India.

Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 seats, has not returned any Muslim candidate in the just-concluded elections. An analysis of the results shows that there are about 20 winners from the Muslim community. BJP, the largest party with 282 members, does not have a single representative from the community.

In the new Lok Sabha, the biggest contingent of Muslim MPs would be from West Bengal with seven members followed by Bihar where at least four Muslim candidates have won. Going by estimates, there were more than 25 Muslim members in the outgoing Lower House.

Trinamool Congress has at least three members from the community among whom are Idris Ali (Basirhat), Sultan Ahmed (Uluberia) and Mamtaz Sanghamita (Burdwan-Durgapur). The others minority community members from West Bengal include CPI(M)'s Badaruddoza Khan (Murshidabad) and Md Salim (Raiganj). There are also two Congress members -- Mausam Noor (Maldaha Uttar) and Abu Hasem Khan Chowdhury (Maldaha Dakshin) -- who have won in these elections from the state.

From Bihar, there are at least four Muslim MPs in the new Lok Sabha. They include RJD's Tasleemuddin (Araria), NCP's Tariq Anwar (Katihar), LJP's Chaudhary Mahboob Ali Qaisar (Khagaria) and Congress member Mohd Asrarul Haq Qasmi (Kishanganj). From Jammu & Kashmir, there are three Muslim members for the new House, including PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti (Anantnag). The remaining two, Muzaffar Hussain Baig (Baramulla) and Tariq Hameed Karra (Srinagar), are also from PDP.

There are two Muslim MPs from Assam -- Siraj Uddin Ajmal (Barpeta) and Badruddin Ajmal (Dhubri). Both are members of the All India United Democratic Front. NCP's Mohd Faizal PP has won in Lakshadweep while AIADMK member Anwhar Raajhaa has made it to the Lower House from Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu.

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi, representing Hyderabad, has retained his seat. Registering its best-ever showing, BJP has won 282 seats in Lok Sabha polls, becoming the first party in 30 years to have single majority. Its leader Narendra Modi would be taking over as the Prime Minister soon.