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The Bharatiya Janata Party has not fielded a single Muslim candidate in the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026, even as other major parties have nominated significant numbers from the community. The party finalised its candidate list on Wednesday, including the nomination of Rakesh Singh from the Kolkata Port constituency, marking a clear shift from its earlier electoral approach.
In contrast, the Congress has fielded 78 Muslim candidates, followed by the All India Trinamool Congress with 47 and the Left Front with 26. In previous elections, the BJP had fielded eight Muslim candidates in 2021 and three in 2016, including in constituencies such as Bhagawangola and Raghunathganj, making the current decision a notable departure from past patterns.
Party leaders have defended the move, stating that candidates were selected based on “winnability” rather than community identity. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has raised concerns over minority representation and alleged selective voter list revisions, further intensifying the political debate in the state ahead of polling.
West Bengal
Bihar
Uttar Pradesh
Jharkhand