Dalit-tribal communities are the biggest game-changer in West Bengal elections

Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in five states of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Pondicherry in the country, but the most discussed is the West Bengal assembly elections. The triangular contest between BJP, TMC and Congress-Left Front has also made it difficult for political analysts.

According to the 2011 census, the population of the tribal community in the state is about 53 lakhs. This is about 5.8 percent of the total population of the state. At the same time, the population of the Dalit community in the state is 2.14 crore. This is about 24 percent of the total population. That is, these two communities constitute about 30 percent of the entire state’s population.

The tribal population in the state is mostly in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Midnapore, Bankura, and Purulia. There are 16 seats reserved for the tribal community. At the same time, the Dalit community is densely spread over about 68 seats in the state. Apart from this, it has a sporadic effect on other seats.

It is said that according to political experts, these two communities had a big hand behind the BJP’s big win in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The party won 18 of the 42 seats in the state, which was considered an unexpected success.

Both these communities are important for everyone

This is the reason that all the parties in the state are eyeing these two communities. Traditionally Muslims are not considered BJP voters. Because of this, the vote of these communities is more important for BJP. At the same time, for other parties, the votes of these communities can play the biggest role in ensuring victory. This is the reason that as soon as the BJP strengthened its hold in the Matua community, the Trinamool also sent its leaders among the community.