Municipal elections in Murshidabad district: 450 candidates, 144 Muslim

Surprising many, for the first time, the BJP has nominated 10 Muslim candidates for the municipal elections. Compared with that, SDPI nominated just eight, WPI six and the SUCI nominated just one Muslim candidate.

By Zaidul Haque, TwoCircles.net,

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Kolkata/Berhampur: Voting is being held for elections to 91 municipalities across West Bengal on Saturday, April 25. In Murshidabad district, elections are being held in six municipalities except Berhampur municipality.

But the number of Muslim candidates in Murshidabad, the highest populated Muslim district of West Bengal, is not proportional to the population. And these include Muslim candidates contesting in all political parties, including Muslim-led WPI and SDPI.

Municipal Election campaigning in Murshidabad district.

Result will be declared on 28 April 2015.

The six municipalities are Murshidabad, Jiaganj-Azimganj, Jangipur, Kandi, Dhulian and Beldanga. According to Census 2001, total population in these six municipalities is 3,07,177. Muslim population is 43.56 % (1,33,971). Out of 380 candidates fighting under registered parties; 123 are Muslims (32.37 %), clearly not proportionate to the population.

There are total 450 candidates contesting for the six municipalities in the Murshidabad district. Out of them Muslims are only 144 including independents. On behalf of registered political party, TMC nominated total 106 candidates in six municipalities. TMC nominated highest Muslim candidates (37). Congress nominated 32 Muslims candidates out of their total 103. CPIM nominated 56 candidates and of these, Muslims are just 23.

Welfare Party of India campaigning for Municipal Election in Murshidabad district.

Surprising many, for the first time, the BJP has nominated 10 Muslim candidates for the municipal elections. Compared with that, SDPI nominated just eight, WPI six and the SUCI nominated just one Muslim candidate.

In Murshidabad municipality, total contesting candidates are 67, including independent at 16 seats. Out of 67 seats, there are Muslim candidates contesting at six seats only. According to Census 2001, Muslim population under this municipality is 22.32 %. But contesting Muslim candidates in leading political party are very low in number, just 8.96 %. Trinamool Congress contesting on 16 seat, but there is just one Muslim candidate, local businessman Alam Mehdi.

SDPI Campaigning for Municipal Election in Murshidabad district.

Same for Congress. Sahida Bibi is the only candidate from Congress. Left Front candidates are not contesting all the 16 seats, instead only eight are being contested. But, of these Muslim candidates are only two from CPIM. All India Forward Block nominated five candidates, but no Muslim.

Jiaganj-Azimganj municipality area has very low Muslim population (just 9.46 % as per Census 2001). Total 71 candidates contesting for 17 seats but there are only two Muslim candidates – Nabin Sk from BJP and Faruk Hossain from TMC. Congress contesting all 17 seats but has not given ticket to any Muslim.

Trinamool Congress Campaigning for Municipal Election in Murshidabad district.

Kandi municipality has 18 seat. Total contesting candidates 80, of which Muslims 11. Muslim population as per 2001 Census is 21.57 % here but share of Muslim candidates is only 13.75 %. CPI and CPIM nominated one each Muslim candidate. Congress and Trinamool Congress nominated two each Muslim candidates. Also in the fray are five independent Muslim candidates.

Largest numbers of Muslim candidates are contesting in Jangipur and Dhuliyan municipalities – 52 at both places. Jangipur under the Jangipur Lok Sabha constituency is from where Abhijit Mukherjee, son of President Pranab Mukherjee, won the 2014 election. Pranab Mukherjee was elected as an MP from this seat earlier, making it a high profile municipality in Murshidabad district.

CPIM Campaigning for Municipal Election in Murshidabad district.

In Jangipur municipality election, there are total 91 candidates, including Independents and 52 Muslims, a relatively better number considering that the Census 2001 has put Muslim population in Jangipur municipality area at 59.80 %. Registered political party candidates are contesting 80 seats and independent candidates contesting at 11 seats. Out of these 80 seats, Muslims are only 44, a little more than 50 %. Trinamool Congress nominated the highest Muslim candidates in this municipality, 12 out of their total 20. Congress contesting on 20 seats and has fielded 11 Muslim candidates. BJP has nominated six Muslim candidates out of their 16. WPI contesting at five seats in Jangipur.

Dhuliyan municipality also has large Muslim populated area (Census 2001 says 74.54 % share). Total candidates contesting at 21 seats number 77 and 52 out of them are Muslims. For other parties, Muslim candidates are BJP (two seats), SDPI (eight seats) and WPI just one seat.

Campaigning of Congress and RSP for Municipal Election in Murshidabad district.

Highest number of Muslim candidates – 16 – contesting here are from Trinamool Congress. Congress’ and CPIM’ Muslim candidates are contesting on 14 and 11 seats.

In Beldanga municipality, total numbers of wards are 14 for which there are 64 candidates contesting from different political parties. Of these, 21 are Muslims contesting from BJP and Independent candidates too.