The political-electoral dynamics involving West Bengal’s women voters can be seen as a contest between the appeal of cash schemes like ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ and the serious concerns arising from allegations of sexual assault in Sandeshkhali.
Two days ahead of elections in Sandeshkhali, which is an assembly segment of Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, the CBI submitted its first chargesheet in connection with the case of assault on the ED team in the area naming senior Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shajahan and six of his associates. The central agency has been investigating alleged sexual assault cases against the same leader and others as well.
With this, the big questions are – Will the allegations of molestation and other charges of crime against women bring any electoral gain for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? Will it see a swing of women votes from Didi’s Trinamool to the BJP or will Lakshmir Bhandar, a monthly financial assistance scheme by Mamata Banerjee’s government rule the roost?
Iron grip of ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’
Bengal’s political economy across its rural belt significantly influences the electoral outcomes, often obscuring issues like alleged corruption, administrative and political malpractices, and sexual assault allegations. Several factors contribute to this dynamic. But broadly, the ensuing electoral fight in three south Bengal districts, scheduled to vote on June 1, can be seen as a contest between two issues – Lakshmir Bhandar vs Sandeshkhali.
Senior political analyst Biswanath Chakraborti said that Mamata Banerjee continues to maintain an iron grip over women voters through the monthly financial assistance scheme – Lakshmir Bhandar. The scheme was announced and implemented before the state’s assembly election in 2021.
Amina Biwi, a villager in Diamond Harbour, said that she and her family are yet to receive the Amphan relief assistance as the Panchayat members siphoned all their money, but she has no complaint against Didi’s Lakshmi Bhandar scheme. “We are scared of violence; we have seen corruption. But the cash scheme has helped me send my daughter to a local school. At least the cash comes to my account, otherwise, my husband never gives me any money and he also wants my daughter to work. She will be appearing for school final next year,” said Amina, who is a house wife in a tiny hamlet in Diamond Harbour.
The monthly assistance scheme provides direct cash transfers to women, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme was initiated with a cash transfer of Rs 500 in 2021, however, the amount was doubled to Rs 1000 before Lok Sabha elections. In a state like Bengal that sees the men from rural areas migrating to other states in search of work, a monthly assistance scheme to women voters has a massive political implication.
Cash vs Crisis
For context, similar schemes like Laadli Behena in Madhya Pradesh by former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan or Gruha Lakshmi by the Congress government in Karnataka or Mahtari Vandana Yojana by the BJP in Chhattisgarh were seen to bring electoral fortunes for the respective political parties. “This is now almost an established fact by data and statistics, that the launch of Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has been a crucial factor behind Mamata Banerjee’s sweep in 2021,” said Chakraborti.
“Cash transfers offer immediate and tangible benefits, which are easily recognisable and appreciated by the beneficiaries. This can translate into strong electoral support for the party implementing the schemes. Successful implementation of such schemes can build trust in government initiatives, making women more likely to support the ruling party,” said a senior member in Mamata Banerjee’s team that designed and strategised her election campaign.
Minati Mondal in Minakha (Basirhat) runs a small tea stall. The 45-year-old manages her three children and father-in-law alone as her husband has migrated to Tamil Nadu and works as a construction labourer. “What has happened to the women in Sandeshkhali is unfair and unacceptable. No woman will ever support that, but it is a matter of police investigation. Spearheading a movement will not run our family. I can manage my family better with the cash I get through Lakshmir Bhandar,” said Mondal.
In the sixth phase of election, West Bengal has seen almost equal polling percentage of men and women voters. Men voters accounted for 78.48 per cent, while women votes were recorded by the ECI at 78.43 per cent. The polling percentage for women votes continued to rise as the elections neared end and as the election approached larger constituencies in central and south Bengal .
Lakshmi Bhandar vs Sandeshkhali: Crucial Showdown
On the other hand, the allegation of sexual assault in Sandeshkhali and the subsequent movement by the local women got restricted to one particular island. There were reports of similar assaults from other areas too, but those incidents failed to add momentum to the movement.
Meanwhile, BJP’s strategy to field Rekha Patra, one of the complainants of sexual assault, as the candidate in large constituency like Basirhat, was criticised not only by outsiders, but some party insiders as well.
The movement soon lost its steam as the ruling Trinamool started putting political colour to it by putting out several videos through some reported ‘sting operation’ and, thereby, calling the movement ‘motivated’. The cases of assault and the instances of sting operations, all are under investigation by the central agency.
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