Muslims face acute political deprivation at all levels in spite of their immense contribution towards the survival of democracy in India. The volume attempts to gauge and analyze the political underrepresentation of Muslims in the Parliament and state assemblies as well as their nomination by the mainstream national and regional parties. The book analyzes the reasons responsible for their absence in politics and power including their undernomination in secular parties denial of SC status to them Muslimmajority seats being reserved for SCs etc. The book also discusses the rise of the BJP and its exclusionary attitude communalization of political space and its fall out on the attitude of the secular parties which thrive on Muslim votes. It also focuses on the internal factors within Muslims such as presence of many Muslim candidates in Muslimdominated seats division of secular votes lack of leadership and their inability to forge a viable political alliance with other deprived groups. The volume also attempts to analyze the rise of upper caste Hindus in politics political deprivation of Hindu OBCs and necessity of due share of Pasmanda Muslims in politics for secularization of political space. The author delves closely into what strategies Muslims must adopt to have at least proportional share and introspection on how to create an effective political space. The volume advocates a forceful change of attitude thinking and action on the part of various factors involved: government political parties media academic circles the community itself and other deprived sections. Finally the book advocates for inclusive democracy and social democracy as advocated by Dr. Ambedkar to eradicate inequality in politics and to have an allrepresentative government. About the Author Abdur Rahman a member of the Indian Police Service (IPS) has worked for more than twentytwo years in different positions across Maharashtra. Belonging to a small village in Bihar he obtained a B.Tech. degree from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. His previous books Sachar ki Sifarishein (Recommendations of Sachar) in Hindi (2012) and Denial and Deprivation: Indian Muslims after the Sachar Committee and Ranganath Mishra Commission Reports (2019) were widely acclaimed. He writes and also gives lectures on a wide range of social educational political and contemporary issues. He resigned from the service in December 2019.
