The 17th Lok Sabha, sees an increase in the number of Muslim MPs from 27 to 22 as compared to 2014. However, Saumitra Khan, from Bishnupur constituency in West Bengal, is the only Muslim lawmaker from BJP in the lower house.
fielded from Bishnupur constituency in West Bengal
In UP, a total of 6 Muslim MPs have made their way to the lower house. However, 2014 saw no Muslim candidate winning the constituency. Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, Fazalur Rahman from Saharanpur and Danish Ali from Amroha won on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket, Azam Khan, Shafique Rehman Barq and ST Hasan emerged victorious in Rampur, Sambhal and Moradabad respectively from Samajwadi Party (SP).
- West Bengal in total has 5 MPs from Muslim community in which 4 are from TMC and 1 from Congress. TMC is the party having the highest number of lawmakers from the community that will represent the new House.
- Apart from BJP, (LJP) Mahbub Ali Kaiser is another Muslim candidate who won from Khagaria Lok Sabha seat in Bihar. The remaining 25 Muslim candidates are from opposition parties.
- Aparupa Poddar, fielded from Arambagh seat in west bengal got converted to Islam and is now known as Afrin Ali, also found her way in the Lok Sabha.
- 1980 general elections saw the highest number of the Muslim community representation in the Lower House with a total of 49 Muslim members.
- Muslim representation in the Lok Sabha was the lowest during the 1952 general elections when only 11 members from the community were elected.
An increase has been seen in the Muslim community representation in the lower house this time. The number was dipped to 22 in the 2014 from 33 in 2009 general elections has now somewhere reached closed in 2019 with a total of 27 parliamentarian belonging from the community.(ANI)
