One of the reasons for the growth of the Congress party seats in 2024 is the consolidation of the Muslim votes behind the party. The Muslim vote consolidation behind the party was evident during the 2023 Sagardighi assembly by-poll in Murshidabad district in West Bengal. The Congress party decisively defeated the AITC candidate from the seat by increasing its vote share nearly 2.5 times from 2021 Assembly election in West Bengal. The Congress party last time won the seat in 1972.Rahul Gandhi concentrated his BJY (Bharat Jodo Yatra) in Muslim-dominated areas, primarily considering Muslim vote bank in his target.
The Congress party won Dhubri LS seat this time by huge margin of nearly 10 lakh plus votes by defeating three time MP from the seat and AIUDF supremo Badruddin Ajmal. This seat is eye-opener in many ways. For last three LS elections the seat is witnessing highest turnout of 88.36%, 90.66% and 92.08% in 2014, 2019 and 2024 respectively. The seat adjoins Bangladesh. The voters turnout in numbers is also surprising. In 2019 LS poll 1685058 voters have exercised their franchise while the number increased to 24,53,608 in 2024. The voters turnout increased in numbers by nearly 50 % while in percent terms its only 1.55%. Defeating of Baduddin Ajmal from the seat is one of the big developments of this election. Dhubri verdict demonstrated that Muslims have clarity in their mind of their voting preference. The increase in number of voters on the seat should also be studied and even be investigated. In Bihar too the Congress party won three seats and two among these seats Kishanganj and Katihar are Muslim dominated.
But the result from Berhampore LS seat in West Bengal was disappointing for the Congress party. Cricketer from Gujarat and political novice Yusuf Pathan defeated five term MP from the seat Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from the seat by huge margin. The seat voting completely shows voting pattern of the Muslims in 2024 LS election. The Muslims have firstly favoured their own community candidates and secondly to the Congress party or its allies.
The high voter turnout among Muslims in this election is also appreciable. They voted to their best in numbers. All Muslim dominated LS seats and areas witness high voting turnout in long queues. Muslim women complemented their male counterparts. The Congress party vote share improved on most of the Muslim dominated LS seats.
Though its also a fact that the Congress party did not enough respect to Muslim candidates. On Barpeta LS seat in Assam since 1967 the Congress party or its ally in different elections only put Muslim candidates. But this time after Delimitation for the first time the Congress party denied ticket to its incumbent MP Abdul Khaleque and nominated Deep Bayan from the seat. Abdul Khaelque revolted against the party and the Congress party lost the seat this time.
