Mumbai: In Maharashtra, where Muslims make up 11.5% of the population, representation in government roles and socio-economic status remains disproportionately low.

According to Kashmir Media Service, despite being home to 1.3 crore Muslims, the state’s governance and civil services reflect minimal inclusion of the community.

Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that only 3.81% of Maharashtra’s police force is Muslim, while the share of convicted Muslims in the state’s prisons stands at 25.5%, one of the highest rates in the country. Although Maharashtra has one of the largest economies in India, with a GDP of $384 billion and a record in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows, Muslims are largely left out of state governance, education, and employment opportunities.

A Maharashtra government-commissioned study by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on the social, educational, and economic status of Muslims in regions with a significant Muslim presence is ongoing, yet previous recommendations for Muslim reservations in government jobs and education have remained unimplemented. As a result, the community faces significant social and economic challenges, including ghettoization, limited access to loans, and high poverty rates.

In the upcoming elections, Muslim voters are expected to play a decisive role in several key constituencies, although the absence of Muslim representatives has sparked concerns over continued underrepresentation in the state’s governance structures.