In an attempt to reach out to each section, the Trinamool Congress is releasing its manifesto in six languages including Nepali and Oi Chiki — the script for the Santhali language.
The Santhals form the largest tribe in Bengal’s tribal demographic of 7.8% and they are concentrated in the seats of West Medinipur, Bankura and Burdwan — which fall in the erstwhile Jungle Mahal area, which for long remained under the control of the Left Wing Extremists.
In the 2016 Assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress published its manifesto in Oi Chiki. The party has been trying to reach out to the tribal population for a long time. Immediately after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took charge, began schools with this language as the medium. In its new manifesto, it has promised a new syllabus with Oi Chiki until class X in the State board. The fact that two of these three seats — West Medinipur and Bankura are currently occupied by the BJP, makes the Trinamool’s bid to reach out to the voters here more urgent.
