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West Bengal assembly polls: 244 crorepati candidates; TMC tops chart with 114 West Bengal Assembly Elections 2016  : There are about 244 crorepatis out of 1,961 candidates contesting the ongoing West Bengal Assembly elections, with ruling Trinamool Congress leading the list at 114, a survey said. "Out of 1,961 candidates contesting in this year's elections, 244 candidates are crorepatis," an analysis conducted by the  West Bengal Election  Watch and Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) said. BJP is second on the list with 46 crorepati candidates, while Congress (31), Independent (19), CPI(M) (13), BSP (4), RSP and AIFB share two each and 11 other political outfits, including RJD, have one crorepati candidates each, the survey said. Among the 1,961 candidates, 81 out of the 245 sitting MLAs are re-contesting in this year's elections and are crorepatis, it stated. "The growth is about 112%. In 2011, the average assets of those 245...

S M Reza Ali Khan, a direct descendent of Mir Jafar, the first Nawab of   West Bengal Elections   with the support of East India Company, is a bitter man these days. Not only is he tired of battling the perception of the descendent of a 'traitor', he is not happy with the way political parties have approached the minority issue thus far. Mir Jafar is known to have betrayed his boss Siraj Ud Daulah at the battle of Plassey against the East India Company. The battle is considered to be a key moment in the establishment of the British Empire in the country. Sitting in his modest house located near the famous Hazaar Dwari palace in Murshidabad, Reza Khan says: "While all parties want a share of Muslim votes, not one of them is interested in doing something for the development of the community. The most neglected area is female education among Muslims." While not everyone shares Reza Khan's bitterness, there is a section in the Muslim community in West Bengal t...