BJP records major rise in reserved seats in Assam and Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a major political success in Assam and West Bengal in the 2026 Assembly elections. The party, which could not win even one reserved seat in these two states in 2011, has now become the strongest force in many Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) constituencies.

The results show how much the political situation has changed over the last 15 years. BJP leaders say the party’s growth came from strong organisation, welfare schemes, alliances, and support from tribal and backward communities. Opposition parties, however, say the BJP used aggressive campaigning and identity politics to increase its reach.

In Assam, the BJP won every reserved seat it contested. The party secured all 14 ST seats and all five SC seats it fought on. This gave the BJP a perfect strike rate in reserved constituencies.

The rise becomes even more important when compared with the 2011 election. At that time, the BJP failed to win any reserved seat in Assam. The party also had a very small vote share among SC and ST voters. In SC seats, the BJP’s vote share was only 10.3 per cent in 2011. In the 2026 election, that figure jumped to 55.3 per cent.

The situation was similar in ST constituencies. In 2011, the BJP’s vote share in ST seats was only 5.4 per cent. In 2026, it increased sharply to 52.6 per cent.

Political experts believe this rise did not happen suddenly. The BJP slowly built its support in Assam after coming to power in the state in 2016. The party worked closely with regional allies and increased its reach among tea tribe communities and tribal groups. Welfare schemes and development projects also helped the BJP gain support in rural areas.

Another important factor was the delimitation exercise conducted in 2023. Constituency boundaries were redrawn, and this changed the political importance of several areas. Many Hindu-majority and tribal-dominated constituencies became more favourable for the BJP because the party already had strong support in those regions.

The BJP also focused heavily on grassroots organisation. Party workers visited villages regularly and maintained strong contact with voters. Leaders at the local level were given more responsibility to connect with tribal and SC communities.

BJP’s growth in Assam

The BJP’s success in Assam is being seen as one of the biggest political transformations in the state. Earlier, regional parties and the Congress had strong influence among tribal and backward communities. But over the years, the BJP managed to build trust among many groups by focusing on welfare schemes, roads, electricity, and financial support programmes.

The party also highlighted issues such as illegal immigration and identity politics, which became major campaign themes in Assam. BJP leaders claimed they were protecting the rights and culture of local communities.

Tea garden workers, tribal communities, and lower-income groups became an important support base for the BJP. The party’s welfare programmes, including free ration schemes and housing support, were widely promoted during the campaign.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leaders also held large rallies in Assam before the election. Their campaign focused on development, national security, and welfare benefits. BJP workers used both social media and door-to-door campaigns to reach voters in reserved constituencies.

Many political observers say the BJP successfully created a combination of welfare politics and identity-based campaigning. This strategy helped the party move from being a weak player in 2011 to becoming the dominant force in 2026.

West Bengal also saw a major political shift in reserved seats. The BJP won 51 out of 68 SC seats and all 16 ST seats in the state.

The party’s vote share in reserved constituencies increased sharply over the years. In SC seats, the BJP’s vote share rose from just 3.5 per cent in 2011 to 46.8 per cent in 2026.

In ST constituencies, the BJP’s vote share increased from 6.1 per cent in 2011 to 50.3 per cent in 2026.

These numbers show how strongly the BJP expanded in Bengal over the last decade. Earlier, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Left parties had strong influence among SC and tribal communities. But in 2026, the BJP managed to attract large support from these voters.

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Big change in Bengal politics

Political analysts say anger against corruption and local governance issues played a major role in Bengal. The BJP strongly attacked the ruling TMC government over issues such as teacher recruitment scams, political violence, and law-and-order problems.

The BJP also changed its campaign style in Bengal. Earlier, the party was often accused of being an “outsider” force. But this time, BJP leaders focused more on Bengali identity and local culture. Senior leaders spoke in Bengali and highlighted local traditions during rallies.

The party also selected local Bengali-speaking leaders as key campaign faces. This helped reduce the “outsider” image that opposition parties had used against the BJP in earlier elections.

Another important factor was the support from tribal communities in northern and western Bengal. The BJP focused on development promises, welfare schemes, and better representation for tribal groups.

The party’s strong booth-level management also helped improve voter turnout in its favour. BJP workers remained active in villages and towns for months before the election.

Political experts say the 2026 election results in Assam and Bengal show a larger national trend. The BJP is expanding its support among communities that earlier supported regional parties, the Congress, or Left parties.

The victory in reserved constituencies is especially important because SC and ST voters often play a deciding role in many seats. Winning these constituencies gives the BJP a stronger social and political base in eastern India.

Opposition parties are now expected to rethink their strategies after these results. Many leaders believe they need stronger local leadership and better grassroots work to challenge the BJP in future elections.

For the BJP, the 2026 results are being presented as proof that the party has successfully expanded beyond its traditional support base. From failing to win a single reserved seat in 2011 to dominating SC and ST constituencies in 2026, the BJP’s journey in Assam and Bengal marks one of the biggest political changes in recent years.