The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has described its performance in reserved constituencies across recent Assembly elections as a "social verdict", with the party's National IT Department head and Bengal in-charge Amit Malviya asserting on 6 May that Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities had rejected those who "sought to patronise them while disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu."

BJP's Sweep in West Bengal Reserved Seats

In West Bengal, the BJP secured a commanding edge in reserved constituencies. Of 68 SC seats, the party won 51 — accounting for 75% — while the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) was reduced to 17. In ST constituencies, the BJP swept all 16, recording a uniform mandate across tribal regions including North Bengal and Junglemahal. In total, the BJP captured 67 of 84 SC/ST seats, leaving the TMC with just 17 and eliminating all other parties from the contest.

Malviya attributed this consolidation to deep social penetration among historically marginalised groups, specifically citing the Matua community as playing a crucial role in border districts.

Near-Total NDA Dominance in Assam

In Assam, the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies achieved near-total consolidation in reserved constituencies. Of 9 SC seats, the BJP won 5, while the NDA collectively secured 8, leaving only 1 for the Indian National Congress (Congress). Among 19 ST seats, the BJP bagged 13, and with allies including the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the Bodoland People's Front (BPF), the NDA swept all 19.

Malviya noted that delimitation had increased ST seats from 16 to 19 and SC seats from 8 to 9, amplifying indigenous and tribal representation. He credited strong coordination with allies and sustained outreach in Upper Assam and hill regions for the comprehensive victory.

NDA Allies Register Gains in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

The momentum extended southward as well. In Tamil Nadu, NDA ally AIADMK won 9 of 46 SC reserved seats and 1 of 2 ST seats. In Puducherry, NDA ally AINRC secured 2 of 5 SC reserved constituencies.

The Political Messaging Behind the Numbers

Malviya framed the results as more than an electoral arithmetic exercise. He said the outcome was "a message from communities that have long been spoken for but are now speaking for themselves," adding that the perceived insult to President Droupadi Murmu had "not been forgotten" and that "the ballot had become the instrument of response."

This comes amid a broader BJP narrative of deepening its social coalition beyond upper-caste voters — a strategy that has been central to the party's electoral calculus since 2019. The scale of the SC/ST sweep, if the figures hold to scrutiny, would represent one of the most comprehensive consolidations of marginalised-community votes in recent state election history. How opposition parties, particularly the TMC and Congress, recalibrate their outreach in these constituencies will be a defining question heading into the next electoral cycle.