In the quiet lanes of Mithila, where politics still mixes emotion with memory, the silence surrounding Maskoor Usmani’s denied ticket from the Congress speaks volumes. Once hailed as one of the most articulate young Muslim voices of the party — a student leader who stood tall in the face of divisive politics — Usmani’s exclusion from the electoral race has left a sense of unease among his well-wishers and supporters. It isn’t just about one man being denied a ticket; it’s about what this decision says of a party that once prided itself on inclusion, diversity, and courage to stand by its own.
Maskoor Ahmad Usmani’s journey from the corridors of Aligarh Muslim University to the political heart of Bihar has been one marked by conviction. He rose to national prominence as the AMU Students’ Union President during one of the most politically turbulent years — a period when university spaces became the frontlines of dissent and identity. His speeches, though steeped in reason and restraint, carried the fire of a generation that refused to be silenced. Congress saw in him a fresh voice — educated, modern, and rooted in the politics of secularism. Yet, somewhere between his entry into electoral politics and this election season, the party’s faith seems to have wavered.
Usmani contested the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections from Jale under the Congress ticket. Despite limited resources and political machinery, he made his presence felt, securing a respectable vote share in a constituency deeply divided by caste and religious lines. For a debutant, it was not a loss — it was a signal that young, educated Muslim candidates could command serious attention beyond identity politics. It was precisely this promise that made his denial of ticket in the 2025 race so disheartening for many. Among his well-wishers, there is now a sharp silence — not of indifference, but of quiet disillusionment.
The Congress’s treatment of minority leaders like Usmani raises uncomfortable questions about its current priorities. In Bihar, where Muslim representation has shrunk and regional parties like RJD continue to monopolize minority votes, the Congress had a rare chance to rebuild credibility through young, clean, and issue-driven candidates. Yet, the decision to sideline someone like Usmani betrays the same old political hesitation — the fear of offending certain caste blocs, the overreliance on coalition arithmetic, and the underestimation of the aspirational young voter. For a state with over 17% Muslim population and a long history of marginalization, symbolic gestures no longer suffice. Representation now needs substance, and silence cannot substitute solidarity.
What makes this more concerning is that Maskoor Usmani’s politics was never communal in tone or intent. His interventions in Parliament campaigns, press statements, and university debates were rooted in the constitutional idea of India — secular, rational, and inclusive. He represented a brand of Muslim leadership that refused to be boxed into grievance politics. Instead, he spoke of employment, education, and justice — issues that cut across caste and religion. In a political climate where minority leaders are often either radicalized or sidelined, Usmani’s calm, educated demeanor was refreshing. Denying him space now is not just a tactical misstep but a strategic loss for the Congress’s ideological fabric.
The silence around his name also mirrors a broader crisis within the Congress’s internal democracy. The party that once produced leaders like Syed Mahmud, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, and Ghulam Nabi Azad now struggles to accommodate emerging voices from the same community. In Bihar, where the Congress once commanded both respect and votes from the minorities, it now appears unsure whether to lead, ally, or simply follow. The result is a confused political posture that satisfies none. For the minorities of Mithila — educated, politically aware, and increasingly frustrated with tokenism — the absence of leaders like Usmani only deepens the sense of alienation.
There’s also an emotional dimension that cannot be ignored. Maskoor Usmani’s rise from AMU carried symbolic weight for countless students and youth who saw in him the possibility of being both assertive and democratic, both Muslim and national. His defeat or denial of ticket isn’t just his loss; it’s a moment of quiet heartbreak for those who had begun to believe that mainstream politics might finally have space for their kind of leadership — not radical, not rhetorical, but reasoned and responsible.
In the larger context, Bihar’s political theatre is shifting. The dominance of dynastic parties, the fatigue with old caste equations, and the growing impatience of young voters have created a vacuum that new-age leaders like Usmani could fill. His politics resonates with the idea of empowerment through education and participation rather than dependence. To deny him this chance is to deny Bihar one of its most promising reformist voices.
For the Congress, this episode should serve as a mirror. A party that claims to protect India’s plural ethos cannot afford to alienate its own promising voices within the minority community. If it continues to play safe at the cost of principle, it risks becoming irrelevant in the very spaces that once defined its strength. Bihar doesn’t need leaders who only visit during elections; it needs those who carry the courage of conviction every day. In that sense, Maskoor Usmani’s silence, though painful, might one day become the echo that forces a reckoning — not just within Congress, but within the idea of representation itself.
About the Writer:
Altamash Khan is a contributing journalist who completed his journalism studies at the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University. He has over half a decade of experience writing on a wide range of topics, from politics and social issues to technology and Brands. In addition to his journalism work, he works as a Public Relations and Brand Strategist, helping communicate Brand messages to the World. He would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Leave a comment below or reach out via the social media handles.