Mon Apr 07 20:24:58 UTC 2025: ## West Bengal’s Shifting Sands: Caste Takes Center Stage in State Politics

**Kolkata, April 8, 2025** – West Bengal is witnessing a dramatic shift in its political landscape, with caste identity emerging as a key factor ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. For decades, the state largely ignored caste dynamics, but recent events, including the intervention of the Calcutta High Court to allow Dalits access to temples, highlight a growing awareness and assertion of caste among various groups.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent emphasis on her Brahmin heritage, a first in her political career, is seen as a direct response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) strategy of consolidating Hindu votes. The BJP, employing the slogan “Hindu Hindu bhai bhai, 2026 BJP Chai” (All Hindus must unite: In 2026 we want BJP), is actively courting upper-caste Hindus, referring to them as “Sanatani” and highlighting alleged attacks on their culture. Simultaneously, they are reaching out to Dalit communities, particularly the Matuas.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, also from an upper caste, is mirroring this strategy, openly declaring his “Sanatani Hindu” identity before mentioning his specific caste. This overt display of caste affiliation is a departure from the previous political norm in West Bengal, where discussing caste was considered taboo. This taboo fostered a belief in a casteless society, particularly amongst the Bengali Hindu Bhadralok (elite).

However, groups like the Matuas, Rajbanshis, and Kurmis have challenged this perception by increasingly asserting their caste identity and demanding greater political representation. This has forced a re-evaluation of caste’s role in West Bengal’s political discourse. The recent temple incidents, requiring High Court intervention to ensure Dalit access, underscore the urgency of addressing this evolving reality. The state, once seemingly oblivious to the complexities of caste, now finds itself grappling with its increasingly central role in shaping its political future.

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