State elections: Of 589 newly elected MLAs, just eight are Muslim

Among 589 newly elected MLAS in Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh, only eight are Muslims -- down from 20 until these states' Assemblies went to polls.A report in The Indian Express points out that the percentage of Muslims in the population of Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is 7.03 percent as per Census figures. Their representation in these four Assemblies is 1.35 percent.[caption id="attachment_1281955" align="alignleft" width="380"] Reuters[/caption]Of the eight, seven were sitting MLAs who were re-elected. The one exception won from Delhi.Rajasthan lost the most number of Muslim MLAs, down from 12 to two. "Intriguingly, both Yunus Khan from Deedwana and Habibur Rehman from Nagaur have been elected on BJP tickets. The BJP had fielded two other Muslims, who lost. The Congress had fielded 16," the report says.Read the full report here.