8. Bihar: Do Muslims Act as a Political Community? Hilal Ahmed* There are two specific features that signify the political distinctiveness of Muslims in Bihar. Muslim communities of the state participate in all kinds of political processes without giving up their socio-religious identities. Although this form of political participation is not exclusively Bihar-centric as Muslims in other parts of India do get actively involved in various kinds of politics-- the enthusiasm by which politics as a sanctified activity is imbibed in the cultural universe of Muslim communities of Bihar is certainly unique (Sajjad, 2014). Secondly, unlike other neighboring states, Muslim sociological diversity in Bihar actually turns out to be a major political issue in recent years. The rise of Pasmanda politics in the 1990, which raised the question of internal power structures among Muslim communities, has transformed the debate on affirmative action in the country. Interestingly, the Pasmanda political assertions also found a serious electoral overtone (Ahmed, 2014). Precisely for these reasons, it is imperative to ask a direct question: do Muslims vote as a political community in Bihar? If yes, what is the placing of Muslim social diversity in the formation of such a political community? These questions are crucial for two reasons. The emergence of the BJP as a powerful political player, especially after the reconstitution of the NDA in 2014 clearly indicates that the party is *Hilal Ahmed, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) Delhi.