West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 30 June declared that his government will arrest both those who obtained and those who issued fake caste certificates during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime. Adhikari made the announcement while addressing a state function at Mukutmanipur in the tribal-dominated Bankura district of West Bengal, on the occasion of Hul Diwas — the annual commemoration of the historic Santhal Rebellion of 1855.

What the Chief Minister Said

'The previous Trinamool Congress government did not work for the development of the tribal population in West Bengal. The tribal community was left behind. There was rampant corruption in issues of caste, especially in the case of Scheduled Tribe certificates during the previous regime. A lot of fake certificates were issued. Those who obtained and those who granted such fake caste certificates would be sent behind bars now,' CM Adhikari said at the event.

He alleged that the scale of fraudulent Scheduled Tribe certificates issued under the TMC administration was widespread, depriving genuine tribal beneficiaries of reservations and welfare entitlements meant for them.

President Murmu Insult Allegation

Adhikari also revived a contentious episode, alleging that the previous TMC-led state government had shown disrespect to President Droupadi Murmu during her visit to West Bengal earlier this year, when she had come to address an international Santhal conference. He stopped short of elaborating on the specifics of the alleged slight, but the reference carried clear political weight given that President Murmu herself belongs to the Santhal tribal community.

Funds Allocated for Tribal Development

The Chief Minister outlined his government's financial commitments to tribal welfare, stating that a total of ₹350 crore has been earmarked for tribal development. Additionally, the state budget has allocated ₹1,200 crore for the development of the Jangalmahal region — a forested belt spanning parts of Bankura, Purulia, and Jhargram districts that has historically lagged in infrastructure and social indicators.

'Our government is determined to ensure the welfare of the tribal community. The state government is committed to the development of tribals and indigenous people,' Adhikari said.

BJP's Tribal Constituency Performance

The political backdrop to these announcements is significant. In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept all 16 Assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes — seats where tribal voters form the decisive majority. Currently, 17 elected legislators from tribal backgrounds serve in the West Bengal Assembly, reflecting the community's growing electoral salience.

Adhikari's crackdown pledge and welfare allocations appear calibrated to consolidate the BJP's strong foothold among tribal voters, while simultaneously putting the TMC on the defensive over its record on caste certificate integrity. Whether the promised arrests materialise — and how swiftly — will be closely watched as a test of the new government's accountability commitments.