Muslim representation in zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats in the State has nosedived ever since the BJP government, through a special ordinance in 2010, limited political reservation to 50 per cent.
The community’s representation in local bodies in the State went up after the 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution in 1993 which facilitated inclusion of Muslims in the other backward classes (OBCs) list. The number of Muslims in zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats, however, came down since the State government amended the rules just before elections to local bodies in 2010.
“Today, there are just 15 Muslims in 30 zilla panchayats of the State. In more than 100 of the 175 taluk panchayats, there is not a single Muslim representative,” said Quazi Arshed Ali, who has done a study of Muslims in electoral politics of the State.
