Jhargram

Jhargram, once known as the epicentre of Maoist unrest in West Bengal’s forested Jangalmahal belt, has undergone visible transformation over the last decade with better roads, bridges, schools and healthcare facilities. But as the state heads into elections, internal divisions within the ruling All India Trinamool Congress threaten to overshadow its development record in the constituency.

At the centre of this political churn is Lalgarh, a region that once symbolised the Maoist insurgency. In 2008, areas such as Dalilpur Chowk were used by the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities to block security forces and resist anti-insurgency operations. Nearly two decades later, the same roads are paved and connected, reflecting the infrastructure push under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the TMC came to power in 2011.

Local party workers acknowledge that significant development has taken place. Residents point to an upgraded hospital in Lalgarh, new educational institutions, improved connectivity through the Kangsabati bridge, and vocational centres such as an ITI and polytechnic college.

However, grassroots leaders within the TMC say factionalism and the rise of local power groups have alienated committed workers and created resentment among voters. Some party insiders claim that organisational disputes and favouritism have weakened the TMC’s once-solid support base in the region.

The party has replaced sitting MLA Birbaha Hansda in Jhargram, shifting her to neighbouring Binpur, while fielding Mangal Soren instead. Hansda, a former Santhali film actor and minister, is considered close to the party leadership, though her local organisational style has faced criticism from sections of party workers.

In a bid to regain momentum, the TMC has brought back Chhatradhar Mahata, a former face of the Lalgarh movement who later helped the party recover ground in Jangalmahal after setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Mahata publicly admitted that corruption and poor monitoring of development funds damaged the party’s credibility and allowed the Bharatiya Janata Party to expand in the area.

TMC leaders insist that Mamata Banerjee’s development agenda will outweigh internal issues when voters cast their ballots. They argue that visible progress in roads, education and welfare schemes remains the strongest electoral asset.

The BJP, however, believes anti-incumbency and public frustration with the TMC mirror the anger once directed at the Left Front before 2011. Former TMC functionary Debasish Banerjee, now with the BJP, said voters increasingly see his party as the only viable alternative.

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With polling scheduled in the first phase on April 23, Jhargram has become a test case of whether development alone can secure victory—or whether internal discord can undo years of political dominance.