BJP’s Gopiballavpur candidate Rajesh Mahato prays during an election campaign.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

In the four Assembly seats of West Bengal’s Jhargram district, candidates across party lines are highlighting welfare promises for marginalised communities who make up almost half the population and hold decisive electoral sway across the region. 

This reflects the social composition of the district, which is part of the State’s Junglemahal region. Scheduled Castes account for 20.13% of the population of Jhargram district, while Scheduled Tribes make up 29.32%, taking their combined share to nearly 49.5%, along with the significant presence of other backward classes. Their massive vote share makes these communities a decisive electoral bloc that all major parties are keen to court. 

Published – April 10, 2026 10:15 pm IST