By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The latest controversy involving the President of India Draupadi Murmu is being shaped as a new electoral narrative in West Bengal, and the way it is being done shows that it is less about protocol itself and more about electoral narrative building ahead of the Legislative Assembly election to be held in April-May this year. BJP leadership, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, have sharply attacked TMC leader and CM Mamata Banerjee for “disrespect” to a woman tribal President of the country. Mamata said she had greatest respect to her and her office and alleged that PM Modi have shown no respect to her and her office in the past.
Though the current issue by itself is unlikely to decide the election outcome unless it connects with broader issues like communalism, SIR, anti-incumbency, or development of the state, the new narrative is politically useful for campaign narrative, particularly in tribal and polarized constituencies. At present, this controversy is yet another episode in a long tradition of high-stakes political confrontation in West Bengal.
During President Murmu’s visit to North Bengal for a Santal tribal conference, controversy erupted because of three important reasons: First, the venue of the event was reportedly changed at the last moment; secondly, critics alleged that no senior state minister was present to receive the President and arrangements were inadequate; and thirdly, opposition leaders claimed it was a protocol violation and disrespect to the President. The BJP leadership, including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, strongly attacked the state government, saying people would “not forgive” the alleged insult. The TMC government denied wrongdoing and accused the BJP of politicising the President’s office.
Since both the sides have been raising the issue to their highest pitch, the natural question being asked is how this issue can influence the forthcoming election is West Bengal. There are 294 seats in West Bengal, and this narrative has already started playing a major role in shaping voters perception – on both sides.
This controversy could affect the election in three specific ways – tribal vote mobilisation, moral narrative against Mamata Banerjee, and polarisation and political mobilisation of voters. The most important electoral dimension is tribal identity politics, since President Murmu is India’s first tribal President and is from the Santhal community.
The BJP is framing the controversy as an insult to a tribal woman and an insult to the Santhal community. The party’s messaging is aimed at Jangalmahal region (Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram) and North Bengal tribal belts. These areas were crucial for BJP’s rise in the 2019–2021 elections. Even a 2–4% swing in tribal votes could affect 20–30 constituencies.
BJP is trying to bring it forward as a moral narrative against Mamata Banerjee. The BJP is trying to construct a “political arrogance” narrative against Mamata’s character, with the chief message that TMC disrespects constitutional institutions, and has become arrogant after its long rule in the state. This strategy is similar to how BJP used on corruption allegations and post-poll violence narratives in 2021.
If such narrative resorted to by BJP spreads widely, it could strengthen anti-incumbency sentiment. However, such issues rarely change large vote blocks alone.
The controversy could however be used for polarisation and political mobilisation. BJP’s strategy is to turn the issue into issues of tribal dignity, constitutional respect, and anti-TMC arrogance.
Nevertheless, TMC leadership, especially CM Mamata has her counter narrative. Her chief narrative is that BJP is misusing the President’s office for politics, and the Centre has been attacking West Bengal’s autonomy for quite some time. She even has alleged that PM Modi did not care for the tribals across the country, including Manipur, where under BJP’s rule tribals were tortured. PM kept mum, she alleged. Then she came out with a photograph of 2024 that shows President Murmu standing and PM sitting.
Despite heavy media coverage, three realities limit the electoral impact of the current controversy. First is that West Bengal elections are welfare-driven. Major issues affecting the voters in the state involve welfare schemes such as Lakshmir Bhandar, Kanyashree, rural welfare schemes, and price rise and jobs. Symbolic controversies rarely dominate voting behaviour. Secondly, in West Bengal politics, confrontations between Delhi and Kolkata are common, and many voters treat them as routine political fights. Thirdly, Mamata Banerjee still commands a strong personal support base, especially among women voters, rural poor, and minorities. Therefore, a single controversy is unlikely to drastically change the electoral map.
At the maximum, as political analysts suggest, it will have limited direct statewide impact during election, though it could influence tribal belts and North Bengal constituencies. However, BJP’s stance suggests that they will use this controversy in their campaign speeches and propaganda.
Historically, in West Bengal, politics often turns dirty. The reason behind it is that West Bengal has historically had intense cadre-based politics, first under the Left Front and later under the TMC. This has produced ideological hostility, street violence, institutional confrontations, and sharp personal attacks. (IPA Service)
