High-Stakes Electoral Showdown in Purulia Amid Allegations of Corruption and Lack of Industrialisation

Purulia, West Bengal, May 12, 2024 - A high-stakes electoral showdown is set to take place in the Purulia Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. The poll narrative is dominated by allegations of corruption and lack of industrialisation, against the backdrop of the local Kurmi community’s struggle for Scheduled Tribe status.

The stage is set for a fierce three-cornered battle between incumbent BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, TMC’s former state minister Shantiram Mahato, and Congress’s veteran Nepal Mahato. All three candidates represent the Kurmi scheduled caste community.

The BJP, which won the confidence of the Kurmi community to dislodge the TMC from the seat in 2019, is now facing a strong challenge from the TMC. The latter has announced in its poll manifesto that it will stand by the community’s demand for ST status and pursue the Centre for its approval.

Political analyst Debashis Ghorai, a professor at Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, suggested that with most political parties fielding Kurmi candidates, there could be a split in Kurmi votes, making the contest tough for the TMC.

The BJP is focusing on criticising the TMC’s governance policies and highlighting corruption and development stagnation in the region. The party is also promising to develop the region’s industrial landscape and aims to sway the local Hindu vote bank by capitalising on emotive issues like the Ram Temple consecration.

The TMC, on the other hand, is banking on the development card, citing Mamata Banerjee’s plans to launch a Rs 62,000-crore industrial park project in Raghunathpur and a slew of social welfare schemes.

Congress candidate Nepal Mahato echoed the electorate’s concerns about lack of industrialisation and employment opportunities. He alleged that issues like drinking water, employment, and tourism have been continuously neglected by the TMC government, while the BJP’s sole agenda was to polarise the society on religious grounds.

The saffron party first gained prominence in Purulia during the 2018 panchayat elections, seizing several seats from the ruling party. In the 2019 general elections, the party made significant strides in the forest-covered Jangalmahal area of central Bengal, including Purulia, winning all constituencies in the region.

The constituency comprises seven assembly segments – Purulia, Baghmundi, Manbazar, Balarampur, Kashipur, Para SC, and Joypur – with an electorate of over 14 lakhs. Purulia goes to polls in the sixth phase on May 25.