The recent mass resignation of Muslim Congress leaders in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district underscores a recurring pattern of discontent within the party’s minority ranks. This latest episode was catalyzed by the murder of Abdul Rahiman, a mosque secretary in Mangaluru, and the perceived failure of the Congress-led state government to ensure the safety of minority communities.
Leaders cited a deteriorating law and order situation and accused the party leadership of neglecting minority concerns, which led to widespread resignations from party positions.
Let’s take a step back, This is not an isolated incident. Over the years, Muslim leaders within Congress have expressed dissatisfaction, often resulting in multiple resignations. From Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan in 2024 to Razia Sultana in 2021. Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan resigned from the party’s campaign committee, which the absence of Muslim candidates in the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s list for the Lok Sabha elections. He highlighted that the community’s disappointment was over zero representation in the 48 seats contested in Maharashtra.
Even before the state assembly elections, a Muslim leader condemned Congress for granting only 11 tickets to Muslim candidates out of 166 announced. The Karnataka Sunni Ulama Board felt betrayed. They asked for greater representation and a threat of possible electoral consequences,
In Punjab, in 2021, cabinet minister Razia Sultana resigned in support of Navjot Singh Sidhu, reflecting disagreements within the party and an indication of the impact of wider leadership conflicts among minority leaders.
The resignation of veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Congress was followed by a string of resignations among Muslim leaders from the region, reflecting fundamental problems within the structure and methodology of the party.
These are incidents that bring out a trend where Muslim leaders in the Congress feel marginalized, particularly in terms of representation and responsiveness to community-specific issues. The repeated resignations are indicative of systemic weaknesses in responding to minority leaders’ aspirations and concerns, as well as those of their constituencies.
The Congress can continue to draw upon its traditional minority support base only if it undertakes self-examination and takes steps to ensure inclusive representation and active engagement with minority communities.
The recent wave of resignations by Muslim Congress leaders in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, marks another chapter in the growing disillusionment of the community’s leadership with the party. Triggered by the brutal murder of mosque secretary Abdul Rahiman in Mangaluru, the resignations reflect deep-rooted anger over the Congress government’s perceived failure to protect minorities and ensure law and order. Over 40 local leaders stepped down, citing neglect by the party and inaction by authorities, which they believe emboldens hate crimes against Muslims.
This isn’t the first time Congress’s Muslim leadership has resorted to such a step. In April 2024, senior leader Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan quit the Congress campaign committee in Maharashtra after the party failed to field a single Muslim candidate in the 48-seat Lok Sabha contest. His resignation was a reaction to what he called a betrayal of the Muslim community, which has traditionally stood by the Congress.
In Karnataka too, ahead of the 2023 assembly elections, the Congress allotted only 11 of 166 tickets to Muslim candidates. The Karnataka Sunni Ulama Board publicly criticized this underrepresentation, warning of growing alienation. Similarly, in Jammu & Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s 2022 exit from the party sparked a series of resignations by other Muslim leaders who felt sidelined and unsupported.
These repeated departures expose an ongoing identity and strategy crisis within the Congress. While it banks on Muslim votes, the party has struggled to reflect their presence in leadership and candidacy, prompting accusations of tokenism. The resignations, while symbolic, serve as a stark warning: without genuine inclusion and action on community-specific concerns, the Congress risks losing its long-held minority support base to emerging political alternatives that promise direct representation and community engagement.
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