During the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, Muslims have remained largely silent. This tactical silence reflects their fear of political participation and their belief that their silence will mitigate polarization. It is a disturbing shift in the community’s political psyche, indicating a moral downfall for the majority and a failure to take responsibility for India’s fissures. Muslim voters have accepted that their participation is limited to staying safe from majoritarian politics and that their vote carries no political currency. They cannot trade their vote for development promises, but only for silent neglect. This silence tells us that Muslims fear visible political participation. Over the last decade, Muslim political action has met with State brutality and social ostracism. While it is arguable that the Indian State has shown general disapproval of dissent, its response to protests by Muslims has been exceptionally oppressive. Police action during the CAA-NRC protests, house demolitions after the protests to Nupur Sharma’s remarks, and the legislative assault on Muslim rights have confirmed the State’s intolerance and society’s disdain for any Muslim political mobilization.