Cong' Muslim minority candidates post 80% strike rate in Assam, Kerala polls

Minority Muslim candidates fielded by the Congress and its alliances in Kerala and Assam have posted an 80 per cent plus strike rate, data show.

In Assam, the Congress has won 19 seats.

Among these 18 are Muslim faces and one a non-Muslim. Overall, 18 of the 20 Muslims, fielded by the Congress have won in Assam and only one out of the other 79 non-Muslims fielded by Congress has won.

This signals complete polarisation of Muslims behind Congress and Hindus behind BJP which won the state with 82 seats in a house of 126.

In Assam Congress ally Raijor Dal won two seats of which also one is a Muslim minority candidate. The other Congress alliance winner is Akhil Gogoi facing NIA probe for alleged links with Maoist activities in Assam.

Kerala has returned 35 Muslim MLAs in an assembly of 140.

Out of these 35, 30 are from the Congress led UDF alliance.

Eight Congress MLAs are Muslims and all 22 of Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League MLAs are Muslim. Here too Muslim consolidation behind the Congress and partners is clear.

In West Bengal, Congress won two seats both Muslims candidates from minority dominated constituencies. In Bengal, Congress had fielded the maximum 63 Muslim candidates after TMC which fielded 47. Much of the state's Muslim vote went to Congress, explaining the split in TMC vote and Hindu vote consolidation behind the BJP which swept Bengal.

In Tamil Nadu, Congress nominated two Muslims and one won.