Since assuming power in West Bengal, the All-India Trinamool Congress (AITC) has been characterized by its focus on crafting and implementing various welfare schemes, with a particular emphasis on initiatives targeting women. The party’s flagship scheme, Lakshmir Bhandar, provides cash assistance to women belonging to general and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe categories aged 25-60 years. Notably, just prior to the Lok Sabha elections, the scheme’s benefits were enhanced to ₹1,000 and ₹1,200 for general and SC/ST categories, respectively. This strategic move proved to be highly influential, significantly contributing to the increase in the Trinamool’s seat and vote share in the elections. As evidenced by Table 1, a significant part of this success can be attributed to a 10.6% increase in the vote share among women. Another key factor in the party’s success was its response to the BJP’s allegations of corruption. The Trinamool effectively leveraged these accusations to shape a narrative of Bengali regional aspirations. In response to the Central government’s alleged suspension of funds for certain centrally sponsored schemes like MGNREGA due to perceived corrupt practices by the Trinamool, the regional party swiftly labeled this action as “BJP’s Bangla Birodhi (anti-Bengal attitude)” and rallied its base to defeat the national party. The Trinamool also capitalized on issues of deprivation within the state and opposed the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, further bolstering its electoral position vis-à-vis the BJP. The party’s success in garnering increased support among Muslims can be seen as a reflection of this strategy (Table 1). Overall, the Trinamool’s electoral triumph in West Bengal highlights the evolving nature of subnational politics in India, with welfare initiatives and regional identity emerging as potent forces in shaping electoral outcomes.
Trinamool’s Women-Centric Schemes, Regional Aspirations Propel Electoral Success in West Bengal
