Speaking at a rally in Gopiballavpur, Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of using a promise to impose a Uniform Civil Code as a political tool that could reshape religious life and split voters in the tribal belt ahead of the 2026 West Bengal election. His comments focused on the potential impact on tribal and Kudmi communities and on a fresh contest in a seat Trinamool has held since 2011.
Banerjee said the BJP’s pledge to introduce a Uniform Civil Code within six months of taking office amounts to prescribing how people should practise their faith, and he warned that the change would hit some communities hardest. At the Kultikri rally, he singled out the Kudmi and other tribal groups as particularly vulnerable to what he framed as central interference in customary and religious practices.
The immediate flashpoint in Gopiballavpur is the candidacy of Rajesh Mahato, fielded by the BJP, against Trinamool’s Ajit Mahato. Banerjee noted that Rajesh Mahato ran as an independent in 2021 and secured only about 1,500 votes, and accused him of switching allegiances to tap into local caste sentiments.
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“They are trying to create divisions — between Adivasi and Kudmi, SC and ST, Hindu and Muslim,” Banerjee said, arguing that the BJP was deliberately stoking identity politics. He challenged the new promises on language recognition and rights, contrasting them with actions the Centre can take quickly in other areas.
- UCC timeline: BJP has pledged implementation within six months if elected — Banerjee called this an imposition on religious practice.
- Local contest: Gopiballavpur — Trinamool’s Ajit Mahato vs BJP’s Rajesh Mahato, a former independent noted for limited past support.
- Language demand: The state government recently sought addition of Kudmali language to the Eighth Schedule; Banerjee says the Centre has not acted.
- Political challenge: Banerjee publicly dared the BJP to prove him wrong on the Kudmali claim and offered to quit politics if his charge is disproved.
Banerjee also raised a rhetorical question about priorities in New Delhi. He pointed out that if the central government can extend the tenures of enforcement agency chiefs by a simple order, he asked, why has it not approved a long-standing demand to recognise Kudmali in the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule?
The exchange underscores two overlapping campaign themes: national-level policy promises that carry cultural consequences, and hyper-local electoral battles where caste and language recognition matter to voters. For residents of the tribal belt, the debate is not only theoretical; it may influence candidate selection and turnout on polling day.
Analysts say the row could sharpen voter choices in seats where identity and identity-based demands are decisive. Whether voters view the BJP’s UCC promise as a genuine legal reform or as a wedge issue will be a key factor to watch as the election draws nearer.
