By Kavita Mistry 
Right now, many people across India are protesting against a new law about Waqf properties (lands and buildings used for religious or charitable purposes in Islam). A Congress leader has even taken the matter to the Supreme Court. These protests are becoming a big political issue, and different parties are using them to gain support.
For example, Mayawati, a leader from Uttar Pradesh, wants to win back Muslim voters who now support another leader, Akhilesh Yadav. In Tamil Nadu, a famous politician named Vijay joined the protests because even though Tamil Nadu has only 5% Muslims, it has a lot of Waqf properties—and elections are coming up soon!
Several states with large Muslim populations, like Assam (34%), West Bengal (27%), and Kerala (26%), will have elections next year. Uttar Pradesh, with 20% Muslims, votes in 2027. Protesting against the Waqf bill helps politicians show they are “pro-democracy” and can bring them more voters.
Bihar, where 17% of the population is Muslim, has elections in November. So, these protests will likely continue. Many opposition parties (like RJD, Congress, and Left parties) hope to win Muslim votes by standing against the bill. But these protests could also help the BJP, which has gained support from anti-Muslim voters in the past.
There’s also trouble inside Bihar’s ruling party, JDU, with some leaders thinking of leaving. Meanwhile, another politician, Prashant Kishor, is preparing to jump into the fight. With so many political games happening, the coming months will be full of action!
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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