Once natural allies of the CPM-led Left Front in West Bengal, tribals have not only turned their backs on, but are also conspicuous by their absence in the polling booths this Lok Sabha elections.

Before the polls, various adivasi organisations of Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum shunned the CPM and had reached out to several political parties for talks but none allegedly came forward.

As a result Thursday’s polls recorded a very low voter turnout in tribal-dominated areas of Purulia, Bankura, West Midnapore, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and North and South Dinajpur.

“Why don’t you ask the CPM bigwigs why are the tribals, who were earlier with us, refraining from voting. I do not want to say anything,” said Rupchand Murmu, former CPM MP.

Manohar Tirkey, RSP candidate from Alipurduar, said: “The Adivasi Bikas Parishad members asked the tribals not to vote. Therefore there was a low turnout in areas like Binnaguri, Telipara and even Santhali tea garden area. Apart from this, there are issues like closed tea gardens and lack of employment which played a role in the low voter turnout, which will help the Opposition.”

Even in tribal-dominated areas of North Bengal like Kalchini, Banarhat, Nagrakata, Binnaguri, Telipara, Santhali tea garden areas in North Bengal, the turnout was low. In 93 booths in West Midnapore, Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur no votes were cast.

In Lalgarh-Belpahari areas no vote was cast in 28 booths and in a number of booths only one or two votes were cast. For instance in Nadaria polling station three votes were cast out of 957, in Madhupur only six votes were cast out of 1,078, in Babuibasha only four votes were cast out of 642. Lalgarh had only 13 per cent turnout in 49 booths. With no improvement in the standard of living, Adivasis residing in villages of Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore are now united under the banner of the Adivasi Mulbasi Janaganer Committee.

... contd.