Bihar Polls: Social Justice Test for INDIA Alliance as Group Demands 40 Muslim Seats, 3 Deputy CMs

Bihar Elections: Advocacy Group Demands 40 Seats for Muslims, Dy CMs for Marginalized Sections from INDIA Alliance

PATNA: As Bihar braces for its high-stakes assembly elections, a prominent advocacy group has called upon the opposition INDIA alliance to move beyond symbolic gestures and commit to a concrete power-sharing framework that ensures equitable political representation for Muslims, Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SCs/STs).

The demands, presented by Sangharsh Samvad, underscore a growing emphasis on social justice as the central plank for the opposition bloc, challenging it to match its rhetoric with actionable promises.

A Call for Quota-Based Representation

At the heart of the demands is a call for seat allocation based on demographic weight. Mustakim Siddiqui, National Convener of Sangharsh Samvad, has explicitly called for the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) to reserve 40 assembly seats for Muslim candidates.

“Given the consolidated vote and political participation of Muslims, the alliance should allocate 40 seats to Muslim candidates,” Siddiqui stated. He further clarified that seats which have historically been represented by Muslim legislators should not be allotted to other communities under any circumstances. “Candidates can be changed, but they must be from the Muslim community itself,” he added.

The demands extend beyond the Muslim community. Siddiqui emphasized that EBCs, Dalits, and Tribal communities, who form a decisive part of Bihar’s social fabric, must also be given a “respectable” number of seats proportionate to their population.

Three Deputy CMs and Separate Manifestos

In a significant push for executive power-sharing, Sangharsh Samvad has demanded that the INDIA alliance publicly announce the creation of three Deputy Chief Minister posts—one each from the Muslim, EBC, and Dalit communities. This move, the group argues, would give tangible shape to the spirit of social justice.

Furthermore, the group has called for the alliance’s election manifesto to be supplemented with three separate declarations: a Minority Declaration, an SC/ST Declaration, and an EBC Declaration. These documents would outline concrete policies for education, employment, security, and socio-economic empowerment for the respective communities.

“An Opportunity for Justice, Not Just Power”

Siddiqui framed the upcoming election as a historic opportunity for the opposition to redefine Bihar’s political landscape. “This election is not merely about a change of power, but an opportunity to take a decisive step towards equitable representation and social inclusion,” he said.

“The Muslims, EBCs, Dalits, and Tribals of Bihar have always stood guard to protect democracy. Now is the time they are given a share and respect commensurate with their contribution and population,” Siddiqui asserted.

Media Updates: +91-93531 21474 [WhatsApp] | indianowme@gmail.com

He concluded with a challenge to the alliance’s ideological commitment, stating, “If the Mahagathbandhan truly wants to strengthen the ideology of social justice, it will have to provide real representation, not symbolic one. This is the true litmus test for Bihar’s new politics.”

The demands set a high bar for the opposition coalition, which is seeking to unseat the incumbent government. How the INDIA alliance responds to this call for a caste and community-centric seat-sharing formula and power structure is likely to be a defining element of its campaign strategy.

Key Quotes

1. “This election is not merely about a change of power, but an opportunity to take a decisive step towards equitable representation and social inclusion.”

2. “The Muslims, EBCs, Dalits, and Tribals of Bihar have always stood guard to protect democracy. Now is the time they are given a share and respect commensurate with their contribution.”

3. “If the Mahagathbandhan truly wants to strengthen the ideology of social justice, it will have to provide real representation, not symbolic one. This is the true litmus test for Bihar’s new politics.”

4. “Candidates can be changed, but they must be from the Muslim community itself.”