The fear of communal polarisation has compelled the non-BJP parties to temper pro-Muslim overtures, and once firebrand clerics have by and large gone silent. Political parties, barring the BJP, pampered the community by fielding more Muslim candidates every election. This time around, the three secular parties have fielded fewer Muslim candidates. In 2019, 20 Muslim candidates are in the fray —10 each fielded by the Congress and SP-BSP-RLD alliance. BJP has not fielded a Muslim candidate in 2019; it didn’t in 2014 either.

Source: Hindustan Times May 09, 2019 02:26 UTC