West Bengal: Phase 1 poll tomorrow; 26 seats have above 20% Muslim votes

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

Kolkata: The election for new West Bengal Assembly is beginning tomorrow (18th April) with first of six phases poll taking place for 54 seats. There are 26 seats where Muslim voters are 20% or above. However, Muslim candidates are contesting in 19 seats. Except Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling, all other districts in Phase 1 –
Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Maldah – have more than 20% Muslim population.

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Out of 54 constituencies, Muslims are 20% or above in 26 seats – 20-30% in 6 constituencies, 30-40 % in 5 constituencies, 40-50% in 3 constituencies and above 50% in 12 constituencies. Ten out of 12 have more than 60% Muslim population.

The highest Muslim concentration is Sujapur constituency of Maldah district, the stronghold of Congress and the family of late A.B.A Gani Khan Chowdhury. In Sujapur nearly 80% population is Muslim.

Some seats are reserved for SC/ST where Muslim candidates cannot contest though there are some reserved constituencies where Muslim population is not less than 20%.

Mekhliganj (SC), Sitalkuchi (SC) in Coochbehar and Gazole (SC) in Maldah district have 20-30% Muslim population. Sitai (SC) of Coochbehar district has more than 30% Muslim population.