Kolkata: The BJP has not fielded a single Muslim candidate in the Bengal elections, even in seats where it had nominated members of the minority community in the last state elections, even though it has around two lakh Muslim members in the state. It had fielded eight Muslim candidates in 2021 and three in the 2016 elections.The party on Wednesday announced its final candidate, with Rakesh Singh contesting from Kolkata Port. Bengal BJP minority front president Ali Hussain said, “…the party believes that responsibility towards any community does not depend on fielding a candidate from that community.” Party seniors further said that candidates were selected on the basis of “winnability”, adding that Muslim candidates struggled to win on BJP tickets due to the gap between the party’s platform and the voting patterns of community members. Congress has fielded maximum 78 Muslim candidates, followed by TMC 47 and Left Front 26 Muslim candidates.