Rising Discontent: Is Congress Losing Support Among Karnataka’s Muslims?
ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಮುಸ್ಲಿಮರಲ್ಲಿ ಇಷ್ಟೇ ಆಕ್ರೋಶ?
Courtesy: Farooq S, Mysore (ಫಾರೂಕ್ ಎಸ್. ಮೈಸೂರು) | ಜನದನಿಯ ಸಾರಥಿ ವಾರ್ತಾ ಭಾರತಿ
Bengaluru, June 12, 2025: Despite playing a decisive role in the Congress Party’s landslide victory in Karnataka’s 2023 Assembly elections, the Muslim community—constituting approximately 13% of the state’s population—is now expressing deep disillusionment and anger toward the ruling party. The perceived marginalisation of Muslims in governance and political representation has sparked sharp criticism from community leaders, intellectuals, and activists.
Underrepresentation Sparks Outrage
Political analysts and community voices argue that while proportional representation would ideally ensure at least 29 Muslim MLAs, 9 MLCs, and 5 ministers in the state government, the reality falls drastically short. Currently, only two Muslim ministers serve in the cabinet—one holding the Waqf and Minority Affairs portfolio, and the other in charge of Haj and Urban Administration. The Speaker of the Assembly, although a Muslim, is not a cabinet member.
Muslim leaders have also been consistently overlooked for leadership roles in state-run boards and corporations. Most recently, in the nomination process for four Legislative Council (MLC) seats, not a single Muslim candidate was selected, despite strong recommendations and a clear opportunity for inclusion.
“The Congress has slammed the door shut on Muslims even when opportunities arise,” said a senior minority leader, reflecting growing frustration within the community.
A Celebrated Victory Turns Bitter
The Congress Party’s return to power was widely celebrated by Karnataka’s Muslim electorate, many of whom saw the new government as their own. That enthusiasm, however, has quickly turned to bitterness. In the 2023 Assembly elections, an estimated 88% of Muslim voters supported the Congress, contributing decisively to the party’s success in nearly 130 constituencies.
But in return for this overwhelming support, community members ask: what have Muslims gained?
A Triple Blow to Muslim Politics
The frustration stems from three major developments that have left the community politically vulnerable:
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BJP and Right-Wing Pressure:
With the BJP and its affiliated organizations intensifying campaigns targeting Muslims, community members find themselves under increasing scrutiny and harassment. -
JDS Betrayal and Collapse:
Once seen as a potential secular ally, the Janata Dal (Secular) entered into a tacit understanding with the BJP in the 2023 elections. As a result, most Muslim and secular leaders abandoned the JDS, effectively dismantling the party’s credibility and leaving the Congress as the only viable political option. -
Congress Apathy Post-Victory:
“The moment Congress won, they seemed to tell us, ‘Your role is over; we no longer need you’,” said a prominent Muslim intellectual. This sentiment is widely shared across the community, which feels orphaned in the political landscape.
The Congress Approach: Indifference or Strategy?
Several decisions and actions by the Congress government have raised concerns among Muslim voters:
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No Clear Stand on Secularism:
Congress leaders have stopped championing secular values, giving the impression that they no longer feel responsible for protecting them. -
No Bureaucratic Reforms:
Despite coming to power, the Congress government retained officials appointed by the previous BJP administration, many of whom are seen as ideologically aligned with the RSS. The continuity in bureaucracy signals that the administration’s underlying ethos hasn’t shifted. -
Silence on Communal Hate:
The government has remained conspicuously silent on hate speeches, communal violence, and targeted provocations by right-wing groups. Even police inaction in such cases has reportedly gone unchecked. -
Abandonment of Minority Promises:
Pledges made to Muslims before elections have been quietly shelved. Party leaders and even Muslim MLAs have been instructed not to raise minority issues in the Assembly or party forums.
“We’ve been told, subtly but clearly, that communal issues are our problem, not the government’s,” shared a former Muslim minister.
Frozen Reforms, Forgotten Justice
Several key BJP-era decisions against minorities remain unaddressed by the Congress:
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The 4% OBC Muslim reservation, scrapped by the previous BJP government, has not been reinstated.
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No new empowerment schemes for minorities have been launched.
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There has been no official response or condolences from the Home Minister regarding recent communal killings in the coastal belt. Instead, statements blaming the victims have only deepened resentment.
A Brewing Storm Ahead?
With resentment quietly simmering, political observers warn that it may not take long for this discontent to erupt. The Congress Party, many say, must urgently recalibrate its engagement with the Muslim electorate or risk alienating one of its most loyal support bases.
“This is not just political disappointment—it is a sense of betrayal,” said a youth activist from Mangaluru. “If this continues, the Congress may face serious consequences in upcoming local and national elections.”
The message is loud and clear: Karnataka’s Muslims are watching. And waiting.
🗣️ Key Quotes
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Senior Minority Leader (on denial of representation):
“The Congress has slammed the door shut on Muslims even when opportunities arise.”
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Political Analyst (on Muslim support in 2023 elections):
“Muslim voters played a pivotal role in Congress’s victory. In over 130 constituencies, nearly 100% of Muslims voted for the party.”
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Prominent Muslim Intellectual (on post-election neglect):
“The moment Congress won, they seemed to tell us, ‘Your role is over; we no longer need you’.”
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Former Muslim Minister (on communal issues):
“We’ve been told, subtly but clearly, that communal issues are our problem, not the government’s.”
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Youth Activist from Mangaluru (on growing resentment):
“This is not just political disappointment—it is a sense of betrayal. If this continues, the Congress may face serious consequences in upcoming elections.”
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Community Voice (on silence over coastal violence):
“Even when innocent Muslims were killed in coastal Karnataka, not a word of condolence came from the Home Minister. Instead, we were blamed.”
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Minority Rights Advocate:
“Congress isn’t just silent—it’s complicit in continuing policies that harm the very communities that trusted it.”
