BJP-allies emerge as favourites in SC-ST reserved in Assam, West Bengal with 100% strike rate in tribal seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged as the most favoured party among the marginalised SC and ST communities in West Bengal and Assam, having cornered a massive majority of reserved seats in the two states, which it otherwise too swept in the recently concluded assembly elections-2026.

The saffron outfit’s performance, along with its allies, in reserved seats also saw a healthy uptick in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, the BJP being a junior ally in the latter.

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BJP’s strike rate in SC reserved assembly constituencies in Assam remained above 55 percent, bagging five out of nine. If its performance in the same parameters is to be considered along with the allies, the strike rate reaches a whopping nearly 90 percent, with only one seat going into the Congress’ kitty.

If ST reserved seats is analysed, BJP’s success rate on its own in Assam sits at almost 70 percent, having bagged 13 out of a total of 19 assembly segments in this quota. If BJP-led NDA’s performance is cumulatively considered, including allies BFP and AGP, the strike rate is 100 per cent in ST reserves seats.

No doubt, delimitation too helped the NDA, since the number of ST reserved seats increased from 16 to 19, while SC seats increased from eight to nine.

According to political observers, the NDA’s record success rate in ST reserved seats in Assam was owing to strong tribal and indigenous communities’ mobilisation under local allies such as BPF as also BJP’s own expansion into the Upper Assam and hill regions.

In the same vein, West Bengal, having been generally swept by the BJP, delivering a total rout to Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), there has been visible and decisive political realignment in SC and ST reserved seats.

If SC and ST seats are considered together, BJP’s success rate is 80 percent.

Out of a total of 68 SC reserved seats that went to polls in the West Bengal Assembly elections, 2026, BJP cornered 51, close to 75 percent. The rest 17 went to the TMC.

So far as the ST reserved seats are concerned, concentrated in the Junglemahal and North Bengal region, BJP conquered all 16, a show that evidences unwavering and total support in the tribal communities.

Of a total of 84 SC and ST seats, BJP got 67, leaving just 17 for the TMC, the support from the Matua community being the single biggest factor for this success.

Meanwhile, NDA’s Ally AIADMK won nine out of 46 SC reserved seats and one of the two ST reserved seat, while NDA’s ally AINRC won two of the five SC reserved state assembly segments in Puducherry.