Despite a noticeable increase in the number of Muslim MPs elected on Congress tickets for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the overall count of Muslim candidates from major political parties has declined. This comes as a disappointment as Muslim candidates only make up 4.41% of the total MPs in the Lower House, despite the community's 14% share in India's population. However, the Congress still has the highest number of Muslim MPs with seven, followed by the TMC with five. West Bengal has the majority of Muslim MPs, with five out of the 24.
Muslim Representation in Indian Parliament: A Declining Trend
Background
India is a diverse nation with a significant Muslim population, estimated at around 14%. Despite this, the representation of Muslims in the country's parliament, the Lok Sabha, has historically been low. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Muslim candidates fielded by the Congress party. However, this trend has been accompanied by a decline in the overall number of Muslim candidates fielded by major political parties.
Current Scenario
For the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party has nominated a record number of Muslim candidates at 15. However, the overall count of Muslim candidates from all major parties has decreased. This is reflected in the fact that Muslim candidates now only constitute 4.41% of the total number of MPs in the Lok Sabha, despite the community's larger share of the population.
Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, West Bengal has the highest number of Muslim MPs with five. The Congress party currently has the highest number of Muslim MPs with seven, followed by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) with five.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
Several factors may be contributing to the decline in the number of Muslim candidates from major political parties:
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. Has there ever been a Muslim Prime Minister of India? No, there has not been a Muslim Prime Minister of India to date.
2. Which party has the highest number of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha? The Congress party currently has the highest number of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha with seven.
3. What is the current percentage of Muslim MPs in the Lok Sabha? Muslim MPs currently constitute 4.41% of the total number of MPs in the Lok Sabha.
4. Why is the representation of Muslims in the Indian parliament low? The representation of Muslims in the Indian parliament is low due to a combination of factors, including political polarization, lack of support from the community, and socioeconomic challenges.
5. What can be done to increase the representation of Muslims in the Indian parliament? To increase the representation of Muslims in the Indian parliament, there is a need to address the underlying factors contributing to the low representation, such as political polarization and socioeconomic challenges. Additionally, efforts can be made to encourage Muslim candidates to enter politics and provide them with necessary support.
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