Congress MLC Nominations Delayed Amid Muslim Representation Debate
Bengaluru | 10 June, 2025 — The Karnataka Congress has deferred its list of nominations to the Legislative Council following internal dissent and mounting criticism over the exclusion of Muslim candidates, raising questions about the party’s commitment to inclusive representation.
The proposed list, reportedly approved by the Congress high command, included four names—Dalit activist DG Sagar, senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu, Congress communications chief Ramesh Babu, and Karnataka NRI Forum Deputy Chairperson Arathi Krishna. However, the names were not forwarded to the Raj Bhavan due to growing objections from within the party.
Internal Dissent and Community Backlash
Several party members have raised concerns over the selection process, arguing that deserving grassroots workers and marginalized communities were overlooked. The most glaring omission, critics say, is the absence of any Muslim candidate despite the community’s steadfast support for the Congress in past elections.
This is not an isolated incident. In previous nominations, the party accommodated candidates from Scheduled Castes, OBCs, Vokkaligas, and Lingayats but repeatedly sidelined Muslim aspirants. The pattern has fueled frustration among Muslim voters, who have long been a loyal vote bank for the Congress.
Muslim Leaders Demand Fair Consideration
Aga Sultan, General Secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and a senior educationist, has emerged as a prominent voice in the debate.
“There are several Muslim candidates in the fray for at least one of the four nominations,” Sultan told reporters. “I believe the Congress will certainly consider nominating one candidate from the Muslim community.”
Dismissing claims that there was no internal demand for Muslim representation, he added, “There are capable individuals who have been loyally working for the party for years and are deserving of nomination.”
Other Muslim contenders reportedly under consideration include Y Sayeed Ahmed, Obaidulla Sharif, Mannan Sait, and Ayaz Khan.
Masood Abdul Khader, President of the Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz, also weighed in, though his remarks carried a note of cautious optimism. “We had submitted our request for a Muslim candidate months ago,” he said. “While we didn’t specifically raise the MLC issue during our meeting with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, we hope the party will address this concern.”
Shrinking Representation Sparks Outcry
Currently, only four members of the Karnataka Legislative Council are Muslims—a sharp decline from 7–8 in previous years. In contrast, the Assembly has 10 Muslim MLAs. The diminishing presence in the Council has intensified demands for at least one of the four vacant seats to be allocated to a Muslim candidate.
Critics argue that Muslim legislators and advocacy groups like the Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz have not done enough to push the issue with the party’s top leadership. Given the community’s electoral significance, their passive approach has drawn mild condemnation, with many questioning whether they have effectively advocated for proportional representation.
Leadership’s Next Move Awaited
With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar in Delhi for discussions with the high command, there is hope that the issue will be revisited. Community leaders and party insiders are watching closely to see if the Congress leadership will rectify the oversight or proceed with the initial list, which could further alienate a key voter base.
As the delay continues, the final decision will serve as a litmus test for the Congress’s commitment to equitable political representation—a principle it has long championed but now risks undermining.
