New Delhi: The number of Muslim MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha has registered a decade high of 27 in comparison to 23 in the 16th Lok Sabha.
However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not have any representation from the Muslim community, although six candidates from the party contested in the election but failed to emerge victorious.
The number of Muslim MPs in the first Lok Sabha was 25.
Significantly, Muslim representation in the lower house comes to less the five percent of its total composition and falls way below the community's 14 per cent share in the country's total population.
Strategic and political affairs expert, Subimal Bhattacharya, however, said that presence of minimum number of Muslim MPs will hardly matter in the overall development process.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already set the motto - Sabka sath sabka Vikas...so I don't think presence of less number of MPs in the Lok Sabha will matter," said Bhattacharya.
He said that India being a secular country, does not provide reservation of seats on the basis of religion.
"But involvement of this community will surely be done in all activities," said Bhattacharya.
In fact, immediately after the declaration of the election results, Prime Minister Modi had said that his government will reach out to the minorities.
Six Muslim candidates each from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have made their entry into the 17th Lok Sabha. Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir have registered three Muslim MPs each in the lower house. Assam and Bihar have two each. There is one Muslim MP each from Punjab, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep, and Telangana.
