Maoist-infested Bengal belt may see another revolution

BALARAMPUR (PURULIA, WEST BENGAL): The killing and hanging of three villagers in Balarampur, an assembly constituency under Purulia Lok Sabha seat, is fresh in the minds of people there. The deceased were associated with BJP's youth morcha and their deaths have revived the saffron party's prospects in Jangalmahal - a Maoist-infested tribal region comprising parliamentary constituencies of Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura and Midnapore where polling is scheduled on May 12.

The mood in Balarampur and neighbouring villages in Jhargram is rebellious, with locals talking about the reign of terror unleashed by Trinamool. "What the Left Front did in 50 years, the Trinamool has done in just five years," said Govur Gorain of Purulia district. Gorain's sentiments find support from four others sitting around playing cards.

Purulia, Jhargram, Bankura and Midnapore were Left citadels till 2014 when the Trinamool Congress wrested control of these Lok Sabha seats. For more than 30 years, Forward Bloc held the Purulia parliamentary seat while the CPM continuously won Jhargram from 1977. The situation was same in other Lok Sabha constituencies in Jangalmahal.

The socio-political dynamics structured during the 30-year Left rule has largely remained intact in West Bengal, with caste playing little role in voting pattern. However, moving in the hinterland reminds you of Bihar three decades ago with thatched-roof houses, enveloped in darkness at night where flickering torch lights sometimes appear as you navigate the narrow state highway that connects Jharkhand's prosperous Dhanbad and Jamshedpur, making the poverty here stand out even more starkly.

Jhargram will see a fourcornered contest this time with Trinamool, CPM, Congress and BJP all having put up their candidates. In 2014, Trinamool's Uma Saren won this seat with 54% votes. BJP came third with 1.22 lakh votes and Congress was a distant fourth with 40,000 votes.

Five years later, the winds of change are once again blowing in this Red corridor that has seen little development since Independence. Lack of electricity, rural roads or industrialisation have only added to the frustration of locals who compare their region with neighbouring Jharkhand that intersects Jangalmahal. The signs of disconnect with the ruling Trinamool were visible soon after the 2018 panchayat elections when BJP gained major ground.

This underbelly of West Bengal threw a surprise with BJP coming in close to the ruling Trinamool. While in Jhargram, BJP won 329 gram panchayats against Trinamool's 373, in Purulia, BJP grabbed 644 against Trinamool's 837.

Arobindo Pramani of Jhargram, however, said that the panchayat samitis were not allowed to be constituted and those affiliated with BJP were kidnapped and threatened to shift their loyalties, he said. The situation will be different this time, he said, adding that the high percentage voting in the area reflects people's willingness for change.

However, not all are convinced with the saffron surge. Ashok Pathak of Balarampur says the support for BJP is among the illiterate. "All educated people will vote for Trinamool," he said.