In West Bengal's Ranibandh Assembly constituency, Kshudiram Tudu of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a sweeping victory, winning by a massive margin of 52,269 votes. Tudu secured 1,31,145 votes, comfortably defeating Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Tanushree Hansda, who polled 78,876 votes after all 19 rounds of counting were completed.
Constituency Profile
Ranibandh (ST), Assembly Constituency No. 250, lies in southwestern Bankura district in South Bengal, near the Jharkhand border in the Jangalmahal zone. Covering the Ranibandh community development block, the constituency is characterized by forested laterite terrain, Shilabati river tributaries, and densely settled Scheduled Tribe communities—including Santhal, Munda, and Lodha—alongside marginal peasant farmers. With over 244,000 electors, the area has a deeply rural, forest-dependent economy.
Key Voter Concerns
Key voter concerns include Forest Rights Act implementation, tribal welfare scheme delivery, drinking water, road connectivity into forest interiors, healthcare, and protection against displacement from conservation projects. A classic Jangalmahal-type seat, once affected by Maoist mobilization, it is now a bipolar TMC-BJP-Left contest where tribal identity and welfare delivery are decisive. High turnout of 84.5 per cent was recorded under Bishnupur Lok Sabha.
Historical Context
In 2021, TMC's Jyotsna Mandi—an ST woman MLA—won by just 3,939 votes (approximately 1.9 per cent of 206,944 votes), an extremely narrow result. This wafer-thin margin made Ranibandh among the most competitive seats in the Jangalmahal belt. An extremely marginal TMC hold, any erosion of tribal voter support for TMC could flip this reserved seat. The 2026 result is critical for the tribal-bloc balance under Bishnupur Lok Sabha and TMC's Jangalmahal consolidation narrative.
Follow the latest election results 2026, live updates, winner lists, constituency-wise results, party-wise trends and full coverage for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry election results on Times of India.
About the Author: The TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, the team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.
