Santal MLAs Take Oath in Santali
(West Bengal, May 2026) — The West Bengal state Assembly Election has concluded with a sweeping mandate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing 207 seats, while the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) claimed 80 seats. However, beyond the numbers, the true headline of the day was the powerful assertion of indigenous identity on the assembly floor as a cohort of newly elected Santal MLAs proudly took their oaths of office in the Santali language.
Multiple Santal Legislators Reclaim Heritage in Assembly
In a resounding echo of cultural pride inside the legislative hall, several newly elected Santal leaders chose their mother tongue for one of the most important moments of their political careers. By taking their oaths in Santali, they marked one of the most significant linguistic representations for the language within the West Bengal state assembly to date.
The legislators who took this historic step include:
- Bhadra Hembram (BJP, Keshiary)
- Dr. Pranat Tudu (BJP, Binpur)
- Mayna Murmu (BJP, Manbazar)
- Kshetramohan Hansda (BJP, Raipur)
- Labsen Baskey (BJP, Bandwan)
Kshudiram Tudu Takes Oath in Santali as Cabinet Minister
The cultural assertion reached the highest levels of state governance with Shri Kshudiram Tudu, the winning BJP candidate from the Ranibandh constituency. Elevated to the state cabinet, Tudu took charge as the Minister of Backward Class, Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, and Tribal Development.
Celebrating his heritage on the state’s biggest political stage, Cabinet Minister Tudu also officially took his ministerial oath in Santali, a deeply proud milestone for the tribal community across the state.
A Strong Voice for the Santal Community
The election results have highlighted a powerful wave of representation from the Santal community across various key constituencies.
Elected Santal MLAs in the new assembly include:
- Durga Murmu (BJP, Phansidewa – 27)
- Budhrai Tudu (BJP, Tapan)
- Joyel Murmu (BJP, Habibpur)
- Dr. Pranat Tudu (BJP, Binpur)
- Labsen Baskey (BJP, Bandwan – 238)
- Mayna Murmu (BJP, Manbazar)
- Kshudiram Tudu (BJP, Ranibandh)
- Kshetramohan Hansda (BJP, Raipur)
- Bhadra Hembram (BJP, Keshiary)
- Bidhan Chandra Majhi (AITC, Nanoor)
Record-Breaking Margins
Among these prominent victories, Durga Murmu stands out for securing the highest winning margin. Retaining the Phansidewa (27) constituency, Murmu defeated his nearest rival by a staggering margin of 45,263 votes (securing 118,241 total votes), cementing a massive mandate from the local electorate and making it the most decisive Santal victory of the election cycle.
