Bihar remains, in many ways, a “dark continent” even to those who live within it. The geographical and cultural unity seen in other Indian states is absent here. The state continues to be divided along regional lines—Seemanchal, Mithilanchal, Magadh, and others—as well as linguistic divisions such as Bhojpuri, Maithili, and various dialects of Hindi.
A further divide exists between North and South Bihar. While North Bihar has a greater number of assembly seats, political power traditionally lies in the South. This imbalance stems from historical and developmental reasons: North Bihar is flood-prone and underdeveloped, while South Bihar enjoys dominance due to its relative prosperity and historical advantages. Consequently, Bihar struggles with a fractured identity. People often cling to smaller regional, linguistic, or caste-based identities to navigate their daily challenges.
Within this fragmented landscape, the Muslim identity lies buried. Despite forming about 18% of Bihar’s population, Muslims have not been able to consolidate politically. No serious effort has been made to create a cohesive Muslim political identity or to recognize their demographic strength in shaping Bihar’s democratic future. In a state where Muslims could potentially influence 50 to 75 assembly seats through strategic social and political coordination, their representation remains limited to only 19 seats in the outgoing assembly.
This chronic underrepresentation calls for introspection and organized political planning. The following mapping seeks to identify Muslim-majority and Muslim-influenced constituencies in Bihar using data from the 2011 Census, acknowledging that the Muslim population has likely increased since then. Listed below are Bihar’s 243 assembly constituencies across 38 districts, arranged by descending Muslim population percentages.
1. Kishanganj District – Bahadurganj, Thakurganj, Kishanganj, Kochadhaman: Muslims constitute about 68%.
2. Katihar District – Katihar, Kadwa, Balrampur, Pranpur, Manihari (ST), Barari, Korha (SC): 44.47%.
3. Araria District – Narpatganj, Raniganj (SC), Forbesganj, Araria, Jokihat, Sikti: 42.95%.
4. Purnia District – Amour, Kasba, Banmankhi (SC), Rupauli, Dhamdaha, Purnia: 38.46%.
5. Darbhanga District – Kusheshwar Asthan (SC), Gaura Bauram, Benipur, Alinagar, Darbhanga Rural, Darbhanga, Hayaghat, Bahadurpur, Keoti, Jale: 22.39%.
6. West Champaran District – Valmiki Nagar, Ramnagar (SC), Narkatiaganj, Bagaha, Lauriya, Nautan, Chanpatia, Bettiah, Sikta: 22%.
7. Sitamarhi District – Riga, Bathnaha (SC), Parihar, Sursand, Bajpatti, Sitamarhi, Runnisaidpur, Belsand: 21.62%.
8. East Champaran District – Raxaul, Sugauli, Narkatiaganj, Harsidhi (SC), Govindganj, Kesaria, Kalyanpur, Pipra, Madhuban, Motihari, Chiraia, Dhaka: 19.42%.
9. Siwan District – Siwan, Ziradei, Darauli (SC), Raghunathpur, Daraundha, Barharia, Goriakothi, Maharajganj: 18.26%.
10. Bhagalpur District – Bihpur, Gopalpur, Pirpainti (SC), Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur, Sultanganj, Nathnagar: 17.68%.
11. Supaul District – Nirmali, Pipra, Supaul, Triveniganj (SC), Chhatapur: 18.36%.
12. Madhubani District – Harlakhi, Benipatti, Khajauli, Babubarhi, Bisfi, Madhubani, Rajnagar (SC), Jhanjharpur, Phulparas, Laukaha: 18.25%.
13. Gopalganj District – Baikunthpur, Barauli, Gopalganj, Kuchaikote, Bhorey (SC), Hathua: 17.02%.
14. Muzaffarpur District – Gaighat, Aurai, Minapur, Bochaha (SC), Sakra (SC), Kurhani, Muzaffarpur, Kanti, Baruraj, Paroo, Sahebganj: 15.53%.
15. Saharsa District – Sonbarsha (SC), Saharsa, Simri Bakhtiarpur, Mahishi: 14.03%.
16. Begusarai District – Cheria Bariarpur, Bachhwara, Teghra, Matihani, Sahebpur Kamal, Begusarai, Bakhri (SC): 13.71%.
17. Sheohar District – Sheohar: 13.43%.
18. Banka District – Amarpur, Dhauraiya (SC), Banka, Katoria (ST), Belhar: 12.33%.
19. Madhepura District – Madhepura, Alamnagar, Bihariganj, Singheshwar (SC): 12.08%.
20. Jamui District – Sikandra (SC), Jamui, Jhajha, Chakai: 12.36%.
21. Gaya District – Gurua, Sherghati, Imamganj (SC), Barachatti (SC), Bodh Gaya (SC), Gaya Town, Tikari, Belaganj: 11.12%.
22. Nawada District – Rajauli (SC), Hisua, Nawada, Gobindpur, Warsaliganj: 11.01%.
23. Saran District – Ekma, Manjhi, Baniapur, Taraiya, Marhaura, Chapra, Garkha (SC), Amnour, Parsa, Sonepur: 10.28%.
24. Samastipur District – Kalyanpur (SC), Warisnagar, Samastipur, Ujiarpur, Morwa, Sarairanjan, Mohiuddinnagar, Bibhutipur, Rosera (SC): 10.62%.
25. Khagaria District – Alauli (SC), Khagaria, Beldaur, Parbatta: 10.53%.
26. Rohtas District – Chenari (SC), Sasaram, Kargahar, Dinara, Nokha, Dehri, Karakat: 10.15%.
27. Vaishali District – Hajipur, Lalganj, Vaishali, Mahua, Raja Pakar (SC), Raghopur, Mahnar, Patepur (SC): 9.56%.
28. Kaimur (Bhabhua) District – Ramgarh, Mohania (SC), Bhabhua: 9.55%.
29. Aurangabad District – Goh, Obra, Nabinagar, Kutumba (SC), Aurangabad, Rafiganj: 9.34%.
30. Arwal District – Arwal, Kurtha: 9.17%.
31. Munger District – Munger, Jamalpur, Tarapur: 8.7%.
32. Patna District – Mokama, Barh, Bakhtiarpur, Digha, Bankipur, Kumhrar, Patna Sahib, Fatuha, Danapur, Maner, Phulwari (SC), Masaurhi (SC), Paliganj, Bikram: 7.54%.
33. Bhojpur District – Sandesh, Barhara, Arrah, Agiaon (SC), Tarari, Jagdishpur, Shahpur: 7.25%.
34. Jehanabad District – Jehanabad, Ghosi, Makhdumpur (SC): 6.73%.
35. Nalanda District – Asthawan, Biharsharif, Rajgir (SC), Islampur, Hilsa, Nalanda, Harnaut: 6.88%.
36. Buxar District – Brahampur, Buxar, Dumraon, Rajpur (SC): 6.18%.
37. Sheikhpura District – Sheikhpura, Barbigha: 5.92%.
38. Lakhisarai District – Lakhisarai, Suryagarha: 4.08%.
The data makes one thing clear: Muslims in Bihar must first recognize their demographic strength and weaknesses across the state. Only then can they chart a coherent political strategy to increase their representation. If they can mobilize effectively, the electoral arena could indeed become a “do or die” struggle for adequate participation in Bihar’s democracy.
--
*Journalist based in Chennai
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