Exclusive: Bengal minister Jyotsana Mandi accuses BJP of deceiving tribal people

Exclusive Interview of Jyotsana Mandi, a minister in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet and a tribal leader:

The three-day visit of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Jangalmahal, a region located in the southwestern part of West Bengal, was an effort to bolster her party's support among the tribal communities ahead of the panchayat elections. During her visit, she announced several welfare schemes and development projects aimed at improving the lives of tribal people.

However, she also took the opportunity to criticize the central government, accusing it of neglecting the needs of the region and failing to provide sufficient support for the welfare of tribal people along with the rest of the citizens of Bengal.

In response to Mamata Banerjee's visit, the BJP accused her of playing politics and using the tribal communities for political gains. The BJP has been making inroads into the region and has been actively working to gain the support of the tribal communities, which constitute a significant vote bank.

However, Jyotsana Mandi, a minister in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet and a tribal leader herself, in an Exclusive Interview with Taaza TV, claimed that the BJP was deceiving tribal people by offering them funding but failing to deliver on their promises of development. Mandi's allegations indicate that the Trinamool Congress is aware of the BJP's efforts to gain a foothold in the region and is actively working to counter their narrative.

The announcement by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay to bring a proposal to the assembly to provide legal recognition to Sari and Sarna religions is also significant. Sari and Sarna are indigenous religions practiced by some of the tribal communities in the region, and there has been a long-standing demand to grant them legal recognition.

The move is likely to appeal to tribal voters and strengthen the Trinamool Congress's support among them. The government's efforts to woo the tribal communities ahead of the panchayat elections indicate the significance of their support and the role they are likely to play in determining the outcome of the elections.