Kolkata: BJP has not fielded a single Muslim candidate in the Bengal assembly polls despite having a base of nearly two lakh members from the community in the state, even in seats where it previously fielded Muslim candidates, such as Bhagawangola and Raghunathganj, breaking from the pattern it held in the previous two state polls.
The party closed its candidates' list on Wednesday, with Rakesh Singh for the Kolkata Port seat.
In 2021, BJP had fielded eight Muslim candidates and in the 2016 polls it had fielded three.
Ali Husain, president of Bengal BJP's minority morcha, said: "No Muslim candidate was fielded because the party believes responsibility towards a community does not depend on fielding candidates from that community."
BJP seniors further said that candidates were chosen on the basis of "winnability" and not community and pointed out that Muslim candidates had struggled to win on BJP tickets due to a disconnect between the party's platform and the community's voting pattern.
One BJP senior said, "If voted to office in Bengal, Muslims will be included in the legislative council, we are proposing in the state."
Congress has fielded the highest number of Muslim candidates — 78 — in the Bengal polls, followed by Trinamool with 47 and Left Front 26.
Bengal Congress chief Subhankar Sarkar said the party decided on candidates based on their presence on the electoral field. "But it cannot be denied that Muslims need more representation in the policy-making process," he added.
Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee said at a rally on Tuesday that "selective deletion" of minority voters from the voter list during the Special Intensive Revision was part of BJP strategy to target the community.