For 30 years, no Muslim MP from Gujarat in Lok Sabha

The last Muslim to make it to the Lok Sabha from Gujarat was Ahmed Patel of Congress in 1984. He lost the Bharuch seat to BJP’s Chandu Deshmukh by 1.15 lakh votes in 1989. Since then, no Muslim has made it to the lower house of Parliament from Gujarat.
Muslims make up 9.5% of the state’s population. In 1962, when Gujarat voted in its first Lok Sabha elections, only one Muslim candidate, Johara Chavda, won from Banaskantha. In 1977, the state sent two Muslims, both from Congress — Ahmed Patel (Bharuch) and Ehsan Jafri (Ahmedabad) — to the Lok Sabha, the greatest representation Muslims have seen from Gujarat ever.

Till 2014, among national parties, Congress had fielded 15 Muslims and BJP none. This time, Congress has fielded a lone Muslim candidate, from Bharuch.

The Bharuch seat has the highest concentration of Muslim voters in Gujarat. Of the 15.64 lakh voters, 22% are Muslims, second only to tribals (31%). The Ahmedabad (west) seat has 25% Muslim voters, comprising Danilimda, Dariyapur and Jamalpur. The largest Muslim area of Juhapura, which has a population of around 4 lakh, is in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat which, this year, is being represented by BJP chief Amit Shah.

Since 1962, eight Muslim candidates have been fielded by a national party in Bharuch, all from Congress, but only Ahmed Patel was able to win. He won three straight LS polls in 1977, 1982 and 1984.

“Muslims are not only socially but also politically marginalised in Gujarat. This was amplified after 2002 riots,” says Kiran Desai of the Centre for Social Studies.


Since 1989, only seven Muslim candidates have been fielded in Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat by Congress. In 2014, of the total 334 candidates in the fray, 67 were Muslim. That year, Congress fielded just one Muslim candidate, Maksud Mirza, from Navsari. All the other 66 Muslim candidates fought as independents or for parties, such as SP.

Gujarat BJP spokesman Bharat Pandya said, “Our party considers winnability, representation from the local cadre and candidates’ following before allotting a ticket.”

Gujarat BJP executive committee member Sajjad Hira said, “Considering caste and community equations, Muslims may not be able to win seats in Lok Sabha and the Assembly. There are no other issues. BJP gives Muslims tickets in municipality and panchayat polls.”

Congress’s Manish Doshi said, “We have three Muslim MLAs in Gujarat assembly. We gave Muslims tickets in the last Lok Sabha polls, but they couldn’t win.”