Bihar Election 2025 : Only 11 Muslim Candidates Won this Time
Muslim representation in the 2025 Bihar Assembly election drops to just 11 winners, reflecting shifting political strategies, vote patterns, and declining minority presence.
Bihar Election (PC- Social Media)
The 2025 Bihar Assembly election has resulted in a sharp fall in Muslim representation, with only 11 Muslim MLAs elected to the 243-member House. This marks a continuing downward trend over the past decade. In 2015, 24 Muslims were elected, a number that fell to 19 in 2020. The latest results show a further decline, reflecting a shift in political strategies and voting patterns across the state.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, fielded 23 Muslim candidates and secured 5 seats, largely from Muslim-majority constituencies in the Seemanchal region. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) contested 18 Muslim candidates and won three seats, while the Congress party fielded 10 Muslim candidates and won two. The Janata Dal (United) nominated four Muslim candidates, of whom one was successful. Other parties such as CPI(M), Bahujan Samaj Party, and Jan Suraaj Party did not win any seats despite fielding Muslim candidates.
Notable Winners
The list of elected Muslim MLAs includes Mohd Zama Khan of JD(U) from Chainpur; Faisal Rahman of the RJD from Dhaka; Asif Ahmad of the RJD from Bisfi; Osama Shahab of the RJD from Raghunathpur; Abidur Rahman of Congress from Araria; and Md. Qamrul Hoda of Congress from Kishanganj. AIMIM’s five winners include Mohammad Murshid Aalam from Jokihat and Akhtarul Iman from Amour.
Reports indicate that despite Muslims forming nearly 18 percent of Bihar’s population, their political presence has reached one of its lowest points in decades. Analysts attribute this decline to limited ticket distribution by major parties, the consolidation of votes in favour of NDA in several Muslim-dominated areas, and increased fragmentation within the community’s vote base, especially due to AIMIM’s expansion in the northeast districts of the state.
The results signal a significant political shift in Bihar, particularly in regions where Muslim voters have traditionally influenced electoral outcomes. As coalition dynamics and party strategies continue to evolve, the declining representation has sparked discussions on the future of minority political participation and the broader realignment of Bihar’s electoral landscape.