With the rise of clerical dominance — often termed “Mullahcracy” — in Uttar Pradesh’s Muslim political landscape, the gradual eclipse of secular and liberal Muslim leadership has profoundly reshaped community politics since the late 1980s.
As veteran journalist M Hasan observes, the decline of the Congress era and the ascent of identity-based regional politics created space for religious clerics to assert influence, often at the cost of progressive voices.
A Historic Shift After 1989
For decades after Independence, Congress governments in UP cultivated moderate Muslim leadership, appointing educated and secular Muslim figures to positions of importance.
This equilibrium collapsed with the party’s fall in 1989 and the emergence of the Janata Dal and later the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Mulayam Singh Yadav, who assumed office as Chief Minister in 1989, was widely believed to have signaled the end of independent Muslim political leadership, famously remarking, “Now, there will be no Muslim leader in UP.”
His self-projection as “Maulana Mulayam” reflected his intent to embody Muslim political aspirations himself rather than empower new Muslim leaders. In this political vacuum, clerics quickly emerged as power brokers, sidelining intellectual and liberal Muslim figures who previously shaped discourse.
Rise of Clerical Influence
While the role of the clergy (Ulema) in the freedom struggle is undeniable, the creation of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board in 1972 provided a new platform for religious voices.
This influence surged dramatically after clerics compelled the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1985 to overturn the Supreme Court’s Shah Bano judgment — a watershed moment that empowered conservative religious authority and fueled communal polarization nationwide.
By the late 1980s, clerics in UP not only shaped policy preferences but also began influencing ticket distribution in non-BJP parties. Politicians — particularly from the SP and later the BSP — sought their blessings as clerics claimed to control the “Muslim vote bank.”
Criminal elements also entered this emerging power structure, further pushing out reform-oriented Muslim voices.
Clerics, Politics, and the Community
The merging of pulpit and political platform, while not inherently problematic, ultimately harmed community interests.
It strengthened communal narratives, emboldened right-wing forces, and created a leadership deficit within the Muslim community.
Meanwhile, the Ayodhya movement amplified clerical activism, turning religious leadership into a political force.
But their influence often revolved around symbolism rather than substantive socio-economic agendas.
Changing Dynamics: Owaisi and New Political Voices
With the entry of Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, an alternative Muslim political discourse emerged — more assertive, identity-driven, and national in appeal.
However, in UP, many clerics opposed Owaisi, perceiving him as a threat to their influence. Despite this, AIMIM has disrupted traditional political equations in parts of the state.
Post-2014: The BJP Era and Decline of Clerical Power
The rise of the BJP and the SP’s electoral defeat in 2017 altered Muslim political strategy significantly.
Clerics today still hold local influence but can no longer command a uniform Muslim vote. Many are perceived to have aligned quietly with the ruling establishment, eroding their credibility.
Major opposition parties — SP, BSP, and Congress — have also reduced Muslim representation due to shifting electoral arithmetic and intensified Hindu-centric political narratives.
The SP’s pivot to its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak) strategy and BSP’s retreat to its core base reflect this recalibration.
Emerging Trends: Education, Awareness, Tactical Voting
A younger, more educated Muslim demographic is now more politically independent and skeptical of religious endorsements.
There is growing resentment against clerics seen as “opportunistic brokers” rather than genuine representatives.
This shift was visible in the 2022 UP elections, when Muslims largely practiced tactical voting, backing the SP as the strongest anti-BJP force while rejecting AIMIM’s appeal — signaling political pragmatism over identity rhetoric.
A Community Seeking New Leadership
Today, UP’s Muslims increasingly long for modern, liberal, and socially aware leadership capable of engaging with contemporary challenges — from education and employment to civil rights.
Clerical influence has not disappeared, but its ability to determine political direction has diminished considerably.
The path ahead suggests a gradual re-centering of community politics on development, constitutional rights, and educated leadership — moving beyond the era where clerics dictated the political agenda.
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(M Hasan is a former Chief of Bureau, Hindustan Times, Lucknow)