Muslim candidates win 31 of 146 wards in Malda, Murshidabad

By TCN News,

Patna: Highly Muslim dominated Malda and Murshidabad districts in West Bengal could elect only 31 Muslims together in 146 wards that went to poll on May 30. The results of 81 municipalities of West Bengal were announced today. Trinamool Congress has won 33 municipalities while the Left Front only 18. Congress got only 7.

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Out of 81 municipalities in the state, 9 are in the two Muslim-concentrated districts – 2 in Malda and 7 in Murshidabad. Barring Burhampur in Murshidabad elections were held in all 8 municipalities. The results are not very good as far as performance of Muslim candidates is concerned. Only two Muslims won in Malda while 29 could win in Murshidabad.

Malda has 2 municipalities: English Bazar (25 wards) and Old Malda (18 wards). No Muslim candidate could win any ward in English Bazar while only two won in Old Malda. Manira Khatoon of Congress won Ward No 6 while Rumi of RSP won Ward No. 10.

Murshidabad has 7 municipalities but elections were held in 6 with 103 wards together. In total 29 Muslims could win in Murshidabad. No Muslim could win any ward in Jiaganj-Azimganj municipality.

The low performance of Muslim candidates in civic polls in Murshidabad can be attributed mainly to low number of community candidates field by political parties. For 103 wards in Murshibad, CPI-M led Left Front had fielded 86 candidates. There were only 25 Muslims among them. That means Muslim representation was just 21.5%. Congress had fielded 103 candidates, but Muslims were only 27, that is 27.8%. Besides, Trinamool Congress nominated 95 candidates, but Muslims were only 26, that is 24.6%. While Muslim population in Murshidabad is nearby 70%, but Muslim representation in the local body elections was around 28%.

Now see the results. Of 25 Muslim candidates fielded by CPM in Murshidabad, 12 have won, that is about 50%. Similarly, of 27 Muslim candidates of Congress, 15 have won, that is more than 50%. It is interesting that none of 26 Muslim candidates fielded by Trinamool Congress has won. Congress and Trinamool fought this civic election separately. While Congress has won and Trinamool lost at least in this Muslim dominated district, maybe a signal that the community wants the two parties to get united to take on ruling Left Front.

Performance of Muslim candidates in Malda, Murshidabad