New Delhi, The commencement of India’s Lok Sabha elections tomorrow marks a significant decline in Muslim representation, with major parties, including the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, fielding the fewest Muslim candidates in the past twenty years.

According to Kashmir Media Service, an analysis of the distribution of party tickets reveals a stark underrepresentation of Muslim candidates in the ongoing elections. The BJP has allocated tickets to only two Muslim candidates, while the Congress party has not nominated any Muslim candidates in key states such as Jharkhand and Gujarat. Even in West Bengal, where Congress has nominated the highest number of Muslim candidates, their prospects of winning are slim due to intense competition.

This trend signifies a departure from the Indian Constitution’s preamble, which endorses political justice. Although Muslims constitute approximately 15 percent of India’s population as per Pew Research’s 2020 data, suggesting an equitable allotment of 82 Lok Sabha seats, the reality is markedly different. Furthermore, despite constitutional provisions reserving 25 percent of parliamentary seats for Dalits and Tribals, only about 30 seats are effectively occupied by Muslims.

Historical data illustrates a consistent decline in Muslim parliamentary representation: from 34 MPs in 2004 to 22 in 2014, and slightly increased to 27 in 2019. This downward trajectory underscores the growing dominance of Hindutva ideology in India, increasingly sidelining the Muslim minority from political discourse and power structures.