Muslim Community Politics: Assembly election results 2026: Assam & Bengal verdicts shift the minority needle | India News

BJP’s success in taming Assam’s largest minority community followed the 2023 state-specific boundaries. According to an estimate, the number of Muslim-dominated seats fell from 35/126 seats to 20. A similar move in Jammu and Kashmir created seven new seats, which, according to the opposition, was ‘suitable’ to help the BJP.While the opposition called it a “legitimate rigging”, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma openly claimed that he had imposed restrictions to marginalize the influence of anti-BJP religious groups. The borders of Assam and Jammu and Kashmir were flagged by every opposition MP during a recent debate in Parliament.Amid the storm over the Election Commission’s SIR exercise, the major complaint revolved around the ‘consumerisation’ of Muslims. The edge of the twin measures – SIR and restriction – has been further complicated by the BJP’s militant campaign focused on polarizing Hindus.With sweeping verdicts in favor of the BJP in Bengal and Assam where the minority population is above the national average and where communal propaganda has become a rallying theme, the ruling party will be encouraged to continue its winning formula.This could further test the community at the BJP’s receiving end, as it would galvanize secular parties that cater to voters across the religious divide. Often, such a situation can result in secular parties drifting away from the right, throwing out organizations exclusively representing minorities, as illustrated by the growth of the AIMIM in the ‘fringe’ regions of Bihar. AIMIM has tried to play this card in many states and it remains to be seen what the Hyderabad party does in UP in 2027.At the same time, the complex situation may lead BJP’s rivals to dilute their overtly secular stance. A case in point is Assam, where 18 out of 19 Congress winners could be Muslims. Such results can be murmured at best.Apart from restrictions and SIRs, there is political chatter about what some might call “conspiracy theories” — the BJP’s attempt to strengthen its hand by splitting the Muslim vote, like Humayun Kabir launching a new party with an emotive religious card.Such conundrums, and surprises, are only for fighting minorities and political rivals, while the BJP steps on the gas to unite the majority bloc.