BENGALURU: It is apparent that the BJP is not the first choice for Muslim voters, but the party has gained significant acceptability in many Muslim-dominated constituencies in the state, a factor that helped it shape its big victory in the Lok Sabha polls .While the Congress candidate has got more votes than BJP’s in all the seven assembly constituencies represented by Muslim MLAs in Karnataka , the BJP candidate has gained significantly compared to the 2014 LS elections.The obvious outcome is that the BJP has improved its vote share in most Muslim-dominated seats in the state. Pointing to the Lokniti post poll data, political analyst Sandeep Shastri said the survey shows 15% of the Muslim vote went to BJP in Karnataka. “This is lower than the BJP’s tally in the assembly polls, but higher than what it secured in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections,” Shastri said. “This could be because there was a majority consolidation in Karnataka leading to a minority consolidation too.”For instance, the vote share of BJP has increased 5-10% in Shivajinagar represented by R Roshan Baig, Chamarajpet represented by BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and Shanthinagar represented by NA Haris, although the saffron party stood second in all three assembly seats compared to the 2014 LS polls.This is also true in case of Mangaluru represented by UT Khader and Narsimharaja (Mysuru) assembly segment represented by Tanveer Sait. The pattern was the same in 22 other assembly constituencies where the Muslim community has an electorate of 25-30%.However, the BJP’s vote share in Kalaburagi North, represented by Kaneez Fatima, widow of former minister Qamar-ul-Islam, the sole Muslim woman to have won in the 2018 assembly polls, and Bidar represented by minister Rahim Khan, has dwindled compared to 2014.“The popular perception that Muslims did not consider the BJP a politically untouchable party in the Modi era is wrong,” said a BJP leader. “Muslim support to the BJP is very revealing. Muslims, it appears, remained conscious of local level politics and ignored the anti-Muslim rhetoric created by Congress and voted for BJP,” he said.However, Congress leader AM Hindasgeri said the consolidation of Muslim votes in the Modi-era has been like never before in these polls since the BJP is seen as anti-minority party. “But Muslims were angrier with the Congress since it did not consider at least three Muslim candidates to contest the polls,” he said. “If this discrimination continues, minorities will have no choice but to support the BJP or other parties in future polls.”