Mumbai: Christians have asked for adequate representation among candidates running for the assembly elections . The All India Christian Council (AICC) has asked Congress president Sonia Gandhi to nominate at least nine members from the community in Maharashtra, including three from Mumbai, for the October 13 elections.

John Dayal, activist secretary general, AICC, said that the council had appealed to not just the Congress president , but the heads of all political parties for adequate representation for Christians among candidates.

The AICCs Abraham Mathai said, Christians are politically marginalised. Their voice is seldom heard. To give them a sense of security , its essential they are adequately represented in the assembly. Mathai also complained that Christians were taken for granted by secular parties.

The Mumbai Catholic Sabha has also asked the Congress for seats for Christians. We have supported secularminded parties in elections in the state and we now need our share in representation, said sabha president Dolphy D - Souza, who added that they have demanded that 5% of the 288 seats the Congress-NCP will be contesting should be given to Christian candidates.

Christians account for around 18 lakh people in Maharashtra , eight lakh in Mumbai alone. However, they are scattered, said Mathai. The AICC has recommended three names from Mumbai to the CongressJanet DSouza (Ghatkopar), Agnello Fernandes (Mahim) and Steven Noronha (Bandra). These areas have a significant Christian population and the Congress should consider nominating members from the community for these seats, said Dayal.

The Catholic Sabha is also backing Janet DSouza and wants assembly seat 162 in Malad to be given to a Christian , said Dolphy DSouza .

Christian religious leaders are also concerned about the non-representation in the assembly . The Catholic bishop of Pune, Thomas Dabre, said there were many deserving and secular-minded Christians who should be given a chance.

Nobody raises a voice for us. Our institutions have been attacked, a section of Christians in the state lives in fear, but there is no one to address our grievances. The Congress-NCP should nominate Christians and also see to it they are elected, said Nashik-based bishop Pradeep Kamble.