Muslim MLA tally at standstill

LOW REPRESENTATION | New Muslim MLAs will constitute just 3.5% of the 288 member house, lament community members; no Muslim MPs from state either

- Manoj Ramakrishnan

While Maharashtra's political landscape has been highly dynamic, one aspect remained unchanged after the just-concluded assembly polls - the strength of Muslim MLAs. Just like the outgoing house, even the new assembly will have 10 Muslim legislators. Of them, five are from Mumbai and one from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Community groups pointed out that the newly-elected Muslim MLAs will constitute just 3.5% of the 288-member house, much lower than their proportion in the state's population, which is 12-13%. The low representation adds to the community's disappointment that there was no Muslim MP among 48 parliamentarians, who were elected from the state in May general polls.

Even the state's 78-member legislative council does not have a Muslim member after two from the community finished their terms in July.