The Congress party has mounted a public defence against accusations that it has become politically dependent on Muslim voters following its poor performance in recent Assembly elections, particularly in Assam. The party’s response comes after the BJP and regional leaders intensified “Muslim League” attacks over the composition of Congress’s newly elected legislators.

In Assam, the Congress won only 19 seats in the 126-member Assembly, with 18 of its victorious candidates being Muslims and one Hindu. The results prompted sharp criticism from the BJP and leaders of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), who claimed the party’s support base had narrowed significantly. Similar observations were made in West Bengal, where the Congress’s two newly elected MLAs are also Muslims.

Attempting to counter the narrative, Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate released broader national data on the party’s elected representatives. According to the figures shared by the party, of the Congress’s 664 MLAs across India, 520 are Hindus, 80 Muslims, and 64 belong to other religious communities. Congress leaders argued that the numbers reflect India’s demographic composition and reinforce the party’s claim of representing all sections of society.

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Senior Congress leaders accused the BJP of deliberately polarising voters through religious rhetoric. They argued that if Muslim voters are not supporting the BJP, it is natural for them to back secular parties instead of regional minority-focused outfits such as the AIUDF or AIMIM. The party also rejected allegations of appeasement politics, insisting that its electoral strategy remains inclusive rather than religion-centric.

The issue has gained political significance because the Congress faces crucial electoral battles in several states over the next two years, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Party leaders appear concerned that the “Muslim League” label could damage its appeal in states where it is directly competing against the BJP’s Hindutva-driven political narrative.

Despite the criticism, Congress leaders have maintained that such attacks are not new and said the party would continue responding with data and political arguments rather than avoiding the debate. Meanwhile, the party’s lone Hindu MLA in Assam, Joy Prakash Das, rejected suggestions that Hindus had entirely abandoned the Congress, stating that the party still secured substantial support in several Hindu-majority constituencies despite its electoral setbacks.

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