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CM Mamata Banerjee accuses Prez Droupadi Murmu of ignoring minority and tribal concerns

March 07, 2026 5 min read Polity & Governance GS2 (Governance Constitutional provisions for STs Centre–State relations)
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What Happened

  • President Droupadi Murmu attended the 9th International Santhal Conference in north Bengal on March 7, 2026, but found the event relocated from a large ground in Bidhannagar, Siliguri (capable of holding 5 lakh people) to a smaller venue near Bagdogra airport.
  • At the original venue, Murmu publicly questioned the decision: "They said this place did not have adequate space. But when I came here, I found that around five lakh people could be accommodated here." She also stated, "I do not think that Santals and other adivasis in this area are fully progressing."
  • The President expressed displeasure that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and no state cabinet minister was present to receive her — a protocol lapse — noting that Banerjee "may be angry" with her.
  • Mamata Banerjee fired back, accusing the BJP of using the President's office for political purposes ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, and questioned why Murmu had remained silent on alleged tribal atrocities in Manipur and Chhattisgarh.
  • Banerjee also alleged that tribal voters were being systematically deleted from electoral rolls in West Bengal.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the incident as "shameful and unprecedented," calling the state government's handling an insult to the constitutional head of the country.

Static Topic Bridges

Scheduled Tribes: Constitutional Provisions and Article 342

India's Constitution contains a range of provisions to protect and promote the interests of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Article 342 empowers the President to specify which tribes or tribal communities shall be recognised as Scheduled Tribes for a given state or Union Territory; any subsequent inclusion or exclusion can only be made by Parliament through legislation. This ensures that the list carries a constitutional safeguard against arbitrary executive changes.

  • Article 342(1): President, in consultation with the Governor of the concerned state, specifies STs by public notification.
  • Article 342(2): Modifications to the list can only be made by an Act of Parliament — no executive order suffices.
  • Articles 330 and 332: Reserve seats for STs in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies proportional to their population.
  • Fifth Schedule (Articles 244 and 244A): Provides for administration and control of Scheduled Areas in states other than the North-East; the Governor submits annual reports to the President on the administration of these areas.
  • Sixth Schedule: Covers tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram through Autonomous District Councils.

Connection to this news: West Bengal has 16 assembly seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes, and tribal voters influence at least 15 additional constituencies — making the President's public statements about inadequate delivery of government benefits to Santals politically significant ahead of the 2026 state elections.

The Santhal Community

The Santhals are among the largest Scheduled Tribe groups in India, belonging to the Austroasiatic language family. They are concentrated in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Bihar, and speak Santhali, which is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution (added by the 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003). Historically, the Santhal Rebellion of 1855–56 — led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu — was a major anti-colonial uprising that predated the 1857 revolt and remains a foundational event in India's tribal history.

  • Santhali is one of 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule; its inclusion followed decades of advocacy.
  • The 92nd Amendment (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhali to the Eighth Schedule.
  • Santhal leaders are an important symbol in the narrative of tribal resistance to colonial and feudal exploitation.
  • President Droupadi Murmu, India's first tribal President (elected 2022), herself belongs to the Santhal community from Odisha.

Connection to this news: The International Santhal Conference was designed to celebrate and affirm Santhal identity. Murmu's public expression of concern about the welfare of Santhals in West Bengal carries additional symbolic weight given her own community background.

Governor's Role and Fifth Schedule Obligations

Under the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, Governors of states with Scheduled Areas have a special duty to submit annual reports to the President regarding the administration of tribal welfare. This is over and above the ordinary constitutional role of the Governor and reflects the framers' intent to provide an independent oversight mechanism for tribal areas. The Tribes Advisory Council (TAC), chaired by the Chief Minister, advises on welfare of Scheduled Tribes in Scheduled Areas and is another institutional check.

  • Fifth Schedule, Para 3: Governor reports annually to the President on the administration of Scheduled Areas.
  • Para 4: Executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the state regarding Scheduled Areas.
  • TAC: Mandated where Scheduled Areas exist; composition includes at least three-fourths ST members of the state legislature.
  • Violations of protocol during the President's official visit can have constitutional overtones beyond political optics.

Connection to this news: Mamata's critics argue that the Bengal government's handling of the President's visit — venue change, low attendance, absence of senior ministers — reflects indifference to its Fifth Schedule obligations; Mamata counters that BJP is weaponising tribal identity for electoral gain.

Key Facts & Data

  • West Bengal has 16 assembly constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes; tribal voters influence outcomes in at least 15 additional seats.
  • President Droupadi Murmu is India's first President from a Scheduled Tribe background; she is from the Santhal community of Odisha.
  • The 9th International Santhal Conference (March 7, 2026) was relocated from a venue estimated to hold 5 lakh people to a smaller site near Bagdogra airport.
  • The 92nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003 added Santhali to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
  • Santhal Rebellion of 1855–56, led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, is recognised as one of the largest anti-colonial tribal uprisings in Indian history.
  • Article 342 of the Constitution empowers the President (in consultation with the state Governor) to specify Scheduled Tribes by public notification; changes require Parliamentary legislation.