Frontline Conversations

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In this episode of Frontline Conversations, sociologist, writer, and Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Royal Global University, Guwahati, Surajit Mukhopadhyay analyses the changing dynamics of the West Bengal Assembly election 2026, focusing on how identity politics has come to shape electoral outcomes in the State. Drawing on historical and sociological insights, he explains how Bengal’s earlier politics—once centred on class and economic inequality under the Left—has gradually shifted towards assertions of ethnic, religious, and regional identities.

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In this episode of Frontline Conversations, sociologist and writer Surajit Mukhopadhyay analyses the changing dynamics of the West Bengal Assembly election 2026, focusing on how identity politics has come to shape electoral outcomes in the State. Drawing on historical and sociological insights, he explains how Bengal’s earlier politics—once centred on class and economic inequality under the Left—has gradually shifted towards assertions of ethnic, religious, and regional identities.

Mukhopadhyay argues that the decline of Left politics has opened space for what he calls the “politics of primordial identities”, where communities mobilise around ethnicity, religion, and cultural recognition rather than purely economic concerns. He examines how tribal assertions, including the Kurmi demand for Scheduled Tribe status, and broader questions of linguistic and cultural recognition, are influencing key electoral regions such as Jangalmahal and North Bengal.

He also explores the growing Hindu-Muslim binary in Bengal politics, while cautioning against simplistic narratives like “vote bank politics”. Instead, he emphasises voter agency, local socio-economic realities, and the role of perception in shaping electoral behaviour. The discussion further unpacks how political parties—including the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party—are navigating and, at times, amplifying identity-based narratives.

Chapters:

00:00 | Introduction: Identity politics in Bengal

01:27 | From class to identity: Decline of Left politics

02:54 | Ethnicity and regional divides in Bengal

10:31 | Kurmi ST demand and tribal assertion

17:45 | Religion and the Hindu-Muslim binary

24:03 | Myth of vote bank politics

26:40 | BJP vs Trinamool: Narrative vs reality

32:23 | Election outlook and predictions

Perfect for:

Students of political science and sociology

UPSC aspirants tracking Indian elections and society

Journalists covering elections, identity, and governance

Political observers interested in West Bengal politics

Anyone trying to understand how identity shapes modern elections

Credits:

Host: Suhrid Sankar Chattopadhyay

Editing: Razal Pareed

Producers: Kavya Pradeep M and Mridula Vijayarangakumar

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