Sonamukhi has witnessed 15 Assembly elections since its inception. The Communist Party of India held the seat for most of this period, winning 10 times, with its last victory recorded in 2016. The Congress has won three times, while the Trinamool Congress and the BJP have won once each. The seat’s reserved status has produced varied results as three different parties have won the three elections held since the reservation, all with modest margins. Dipali Saha of Trinamool Congress won the 2011 contest, defeating Manoranjan Chongre of CPI(M) by 7,289 votes. CPI(M) returned in 2016, with Ajit Ray defeating Dipali Saha by 8,719 votes. The BJP experimented with changing candidates each election, and saw success in 2021 when Dibakar Gharami secured victory over Trinamool’s Shyamal Santra by 10,888 votes.
BJP’s rise in Sonamukhi is also evident in Lok Sabha voting trends. Its vote share, only 8.08 per cent in the 2016 Assembly election, soared during parliamentary contests, with the party leading over Trinamool Congress by 23,835 votes or 12.30 per cent in 2019, before seeing its lead drop to 11,614 votes or 5.60 per cent in 2024.
The constituency had 241,651 registered voters in 2024, up from 233,059 in 2021 and 223,844 in 2019. Scheduled Castes make up 42.84 per cent of the electorate, Scheduled Tribes 3.15 per cent, and Muslims 10.90 per cent. It is predominantly rural, with only 10.10 per cent of its voters living in urban pockets.
Turnout in Sonamukhi is typically strong, especially during Assembly elections, where participation reached 91.48 per cent in 2011, before falling slightly to 89.05 per cent in 2016 and 89.23 per cent in 2021. Lok Sabha polls have seen slightly lower figures at 87.05 per cent in 2019 and 86.16 per cent in 2024.
The name Sonamukhi, which translates to “Mouth of Gold” in English, is believed to refer to the prosperity brought by its silk industry and vibrant local trade from earlier centuries. Sonamukhi is renowned for its silk production, particularly silk saris that draw buyers from across the region. The town is also noted for its terracotta temples, reflecting a legacy of artistic and religious patronage. These temples, with their intricate designs, stand as important landmarks.
The region’s topography is flat and gently undulating, threaded by small rivers like the Gandheswari, which supports agriculture and provides irrigation. Sonamukhi’s local economy is based on farming, handloom weaving, pottery, and silk-work, alongside small businesses and weekly markets. Health centres, schools, and local administrative offices offer basic infrastructure, though residents depend on nearby towns for specialised services.
Sonamukhi is located 22 km from Bishnupur, the subdivision and Lok Sabha seat headquarters, and about 47 km from Bankura, the district headquarters. The state capital Kolkata lies about 130 km from the town. Khandaghosh and Patrasayer in neighbouring Bardhaman district can be reached in 16 to 19 km, while the industrial town of Durgapur is approximately 50 km away. The nearest railway station is at Sonamukhi, giving direct access to Bankura and onward to Kolkata.
As the 2026 Assembly elections draw near, Sonamukhi is set for a close contest between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress, with the BJP enjoying a slight edge. The BJP would hope for the revival of the CPI(M)-Congress alliance from the margins, as the alliance has the potential to cut into the Trinamool Congress’s vote bank and make the contest easier for the BJP. This becomes significant, given that Sonamukhi has not given any party two consecutive terms since the 2011 polls.
(Ajay Jha)
