Can BJP hold sway over Pasmanda Muslim votes ahead of Bihar polls?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ramped up its outreach to Pasmanda Muslims, a socially and economically backward segment that constitutes more than 70 per cent of the state’s Muslim population. 

The party aims to wean away a sizeable chunk of Muslims, who have been traditionally siding with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, ahead of the crucial assembly polls in the state, due in October-November.

Bihar BJP has announced that the party would ensure greater political participation for Pasmanda Muslims in the state. The BJP, in a similar fashion, had made a Pasmanda muslim leader as a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government.

Pasmanda, a Persian word that means one's left behind, seeks to represent the backward and the Dalits among the larger Muslim community.

The BJP argues that despite being used as a vote bank, Pasmandas were historically denied political representation and social upliftment by parties such as the RJD and Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his speech at the national executive meeting in Hyderabad in 2022, had asked the party to engage with the Pasmanda Muslims, who are often ignored by the ruling elite and those regional parties seeking their votes.

Ahead of the Bihar polls, the BJP Bihar unit had organised an event in the state capital to engage with the community and is likely to step up its efforts of outreach as the polls draw near. They may even be promised specific doles in the manifesto.

Addressing the Pasamanda community, state president Dilip Jaiswal had accused the other parties of using the community as a vote bank while making little effort to benefit them. He said it was under the NDA government that Pasmanda Muslims were granted reservation benefits, and he assured the community that the BJP will ensure their political representation.

Another reason for the BJP’s outreach is the gathering sentiment among the Muslim community on the issue of Waqf Law. The main opposition party, RJD, had promised to block it in the state if voted to power. The saffron party’s aim is not to let that consolidation happen around the waqf legislation.

As the census exercise will take place next year, the BJP may also push the Pasmanda muslims to enumerate their castes so that the exact numbers could be recorded. Once done, this may then allow the muslim castes to avail facilities for the backward communities, while politically making them a separate voice within their community.

India