New Delhi
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced an almost month-long poll schedule for West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The four States and one Union Territory together account for a total of 824 Assembly seats.
- West Bengal to have elections in 2 phases on April 23 and 29; it was in 8 phases last time
- Single phase election in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
- Voting in Kerala, Assam and Puducherry on April 9
- Tamil Nadu to go to polls on April 23
- Counting of votes for all 824 seats across four states and one UT on May 4
- Total 17.4 crore voters eligible to vote; equals population of Australia, Canada, France, Germany and South Africa combined
In West Bengal, TMC chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is seeking a fourth term while the BJP is again hopeful of dethroning her. In Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin is leading an alliance to retain power while the AIADMK has teamed up with the BJP even as all eyes are also on the new entrant film star Vijay’s TVK. While Himanta Biswa Sarma is out seeking a return in Assam with some radical stances, the Congress is hoping of coming to power in Kerala replacing the Left. The ruling AINRC-BJP coalition is eyeing a return in Puducherry.
With this, tribal representation in these legislatures is once again in focus. In all, 39 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). This, in effect, means ST-reserved constituencies constitute about 4.73% of the total Assembly seats going to polls across the five legislatures.
The distribution of tribal seats is highly uneven. Assam and West Bengal together account for 35 of the 39 ST constituencies, making these two States the central arena of tribal electoral politics. Among the States going to polls, Assam has the highest proportion of tribal representation. Out of 126 Assembly seats, 19 are reserved for ST candidates, accounting for 15.08% of the Assembly.
Following the Delimitation of Assam Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2023, the number of ST-reserved Assembly seats in Assam increased from 16 to 19, while the Assembly strength remained unchanged at 126.
The Bharatiya Janata Party currently has the highest stake, holding 13 ST seats across Assam and West Bengal, while the Trinamool Congress holds 9 ST seats, mainly in West Bengal.
THROUGH THE STATISTICAL LENS
| State / UT | Total Assembly Seats | ST Reserved Seats | Share of ST Seats |
| West Bengal | 294 | 16 | 5.44% |
| Assam | 126 | 19 | 15.08% |
| Tamil Nadu | 234 | 2 | 0.85% |
| Kerala | 140 | 2 | 1.43% |
| Puducherry | 30 | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 824 | 39 | 4.73% |
Party Position on ST Seats — West Bengal
| Party | ST MLAs |
| Trinamool Congress (TMC) | 9 |
| Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 5 |
| Others | 2 |
| Total | 16 |
Party Position on ST Seats — Assam
| Party | ST MLAs |
| BJP | 8 |
| United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) | 4 |
| Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) | 1 |
| Congress | 1 |
| Others / Independents | 5 |
| Total | 19 |
Party Position on ST Seats — Tamil Nadu
| Party | ST MLAs |
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) | 2 |
| Total | 2 |
Party Position on ST Seats — Kerala
| Alliance / Party | ST MLAs |
| Left Democratic Front (CPI-M) | 1 |
| United Democratic Front (Congress) | 1 |
| Total | 2 |
Major Parties’ Stakes on ST Seats
| Party | Current ST MLAs | Main States Where Stakes Are High | Political Significance |
| BJP | 13 | Assam, West Bengal | A strong showing would consolidate its outreach among tribal communities in eastern India. |
| TMC | 9 | West Bengal | Retaining tribal support in Junglemahal and North Bengal is crucial for maintaining dominance. |
| DMK | 2 | Tamil Nadu | Currently holds both ST seats; retaining them reinforces inclusive representation. |
| Congress | 2 | Assam, Kerala | A chance to rebuild tribal support bases in regions where its presence has declined. |
| Left Parties | 1 | Kerala | Maintaining tribal constituencies helps preserve their traditional support base. |
| Regional Parties (UPPL, AGP, others) | 9 | Assam | Tribal regional parties remain influential in Bodoland and other tribal areas. |
