As Bihar gears up for its upcoming assembly elections, AIMIM has raised concerns over the representation of Muslims in the opposition Mahagathbandhan. AIMIM’s Uttar Pradesh chief Shaukat Ali highlighted that Muslims, who constitute 18% of Bihar’s population, have been sidelined in the alliance’s power-sharing arrangement. In a social media post, Ali used an AI-generated image showing a Muslim man on the floor while leaders from other communities enjoy symbolic privileges, emphasizing the imbalance.
The post appeared shortly after the Mahagathbandhan announced RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate and VIP leader Mukesh Sahani as the deputy CM face. Ali pointed out that Tejashwi belongs to the Yadav community, which makes up 13% of Bihar’s population, while Sahani represents the Nishad community, around 2% of the population. The AIMIM has criticized this setup, suggesting that despite the significant Muslim population, the community has been reduced to symbolic roles rather than meaningful representation.
AIMIM’s remarks underline the party’s ongoing efforts to secure a larger political presence in Bihar. After unsuccessful attempts to join the RJD-Congress alliance, AIMIM is contesting approximately 30 of the state’s 243 assembly seats independently. The party has frequently accused the opposition of being half-hearted in countering the BJP’s influence in the state, particularly on issues of communal politics.
The Bihar elections are expected to witness intense competition as regional and national parties strategize to consolidate their vote banks. AIMIM’s stance adds another layer of complexity to the opposition’s challenge of balancing caste and community representation while presenting a unified front against the ruling party. Analysts suggest that the outcome may reshape the political landscape in Bihar, with Muslim voters potentially playing a decisive role in key constituencies.
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