Muslim representation in India’s state assemblies has declined sharply during the decade of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule. According to data cited in the report, the number of Muslim legislators across the country fell from about 339 in 2013 to around 255 in 2026. The steepest declines occurred in major states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims make up roughly 19 percent of the population, now has only 31 Muslim legislators in its 403-member assembly, down from 63 previously.

Analysts attribute the decline to the BJP’s rise since 2014 and the resulting shifts in electoral strategies across states. Opposition parties have also adjusted candidate selection based on caste and social equations, which has affected Muslim representation. The report notes that the BJP fielded no Muslim candidates in recent elections in West Bengal and Assam, unlike in 2021. After losses in Assam, the party even dissolved its minority cell there.

The report highlights that seven states currently have no Muslim legislators, while a few states such as Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya have seen slight increases.