Bihar election results 2015: From 19 to 24, house sees a rise in Muslim MLAs

PATNA: All the Muslim members are from the grand alliance, which routed the NDA, except one who was elected on a CPI-ML ticket.The RJD has 12 MLAs from the minority community , Congress six, JD(U) five and CPIML one. Four of them were elected from seats in Muslim-dominated Kishanganj district, three each from East Champaran and Purnia, two each from Araria, Darbhanga and Katihar and one each from Sheohar, Madhubani, Saharsa, Gopalganj, Samastipur, Bhojpur, Rohtas and West Champaran districts.

Even the Owaisi factor could not hamper the poll prospects of these grand alliance candidates in Muslim-dominated constituencies. Owaisi's AIMIM contested six seats in Seemanchal and lost all.

The grand alliance gave tickets to 33 Muslims or 14% of its total candidates. The BJP had fielded only two Muslim candidates, both of whom lost. The outgoing assembly had one Muslim BJP MLA. Even Muslim candidates of BJP's allies -LJP , RLSP and HAM-S -could not make it to the assembly .The outgoing House had two Muslim women legislators -Parveen Amanullah and Razia Khatoon. This time, there would be no Muslim woman in the new House. Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who won from Al inagar on an RJD ticket, said the number of Muslim candidates has increased from 19 to 24, but the representation was still less when compared to the actual population of Mus lims in the state. Muslims account for 16% of Bihar's population, but their representa tion in the new House would be around 10%.

“Had more Muslims been given tickets BJP would have blamed us for creating a Pa kistan in Bihar. I know the number isn't in proportion to the population, but that doesn' mean the problems faced by the minority community would be ignored,“ Siddiqui add ed. Sarfaraz Alam of JD(U), who retained hi Jokihat seat in Araria district, said he would put forward the problems faced by minority community to the new government.