Young, educated Muslim women tasting political water in Bihar

Patna: Ranchi Women’s College graduate Kahkashan Perween is just 30 and out to taste water of electoral politics. She wants to serve the society as Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly. She is in the fray for Kahalgaon assembly seat. The ruling Janata Dal-United of chief minister Nitish Kumar has chosen her as its candidate for the seat in Bhagalpur district. She is not alone.


There are many other young and high educated Muslim women who have been fielded by major parties or alliances to contest the ongoing Bihar Assembly election.

Praveen Amanullah

Shagufta Azim is 33 and post-graduate. She is Congress candidate in Sikti assembly seat in Araria district. Rajya Sabha MP Sabir Ali’s wife Yasmin is 35 and contesting from Narkatia assembly constituency in East Champaran district on LJP ticket. She is matriculate. Nilofer Nahid is contesting from Banka seat. The 43-yr-old Congress candidate has kept blank the educational qualification column in her affidavit.

The most educated among six Muslim women candidates of major parties/alliances is Shabnam Perween. The 46-yr-old Perween has done Masters, B.Ed. and Ph.D. Wife of JD-U Lok Sabha MP Monazir Hassan, Perween has been selected by RJD of Lalu Parasad for the Munger assembly seat.

However, JD-U candidate Praveen Amanullah is considered as the most high profile among them. Wife of state cabinet secretary Afzal Amanullah, Perween is Miranda House alumnus of Delhi University. She is 52. She is in the fray for Sahebpur Kamal seat in Begusarai district.

Wealth-wise

While Kahkashan has only Rs 5000 in possession and Rs 6559 in bank account, Shagufta Azim has Rs 50000 in cash and Rs 87267 in one bank account and Rs 10000 in another, reveal their affidavits filed with the Election Commission.

On the other hand, Yasmin has Rs 25000 in cash, Nilofer Rs 27632, Shabnam Rs 25000 and Praveen Amanullah has Rs 36000 in cash and about Rs 2.7 lakh in bank account. The daughter of former diplomat, Lok Sabha Member and currently president of All India Muslim Majlise Mushawarat, Syed Shahabuddin, Praveen also has .22 revolver in her possession.
Winning prospects
It is difficult to predict how many of them will have the last laugh. Of six, four are facing poll in the Phase 4 on November 1.

While Kahkashan is facing 12 candidates including one woman in Kahalgaon in Phase 4, Shagufta Azim also took on 12 candidates including one woman in Sikta in Phase 1. In Phase 2, Yasmin fought with 17 candidates including one independent woman candidate. Three others will see their political fate locked in EVM on November 1 in Phase 4. Nilofar will face 14 candidates including one woman in Banka, Shabnam 19 including one woman in Munger and Praveen Amanullah 11 candidates in Sahebpur Kamal. She is lone woman candidate on the seat.

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