Phansidewa (ST) is a Scheduled Tribe–reserved assembly constituency located in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Situated in the Terai region of north Bengal, the constituency includes semi-urban towns and rural villages, with tea gardens, agriculture, and small businesses forming the backbone of the local economy. The constituency has a significant tribal population, making tribal welfare, livelihoods, and development central issues in local politics.
In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Phansidewa (ST) was won by Durga Murmu of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He defeated his nearest rival from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) by a margin of around 11,000 votes. The result highlighted the BJP’s strengthened position among tribal voters in north Bengal, while also demonstrating the constituency’s competitive nature.
Key issues in Phansidewa (ST) centre on livelihoods, infrastructure, and social welfare. Tea garden workers and farmers frequently raise concerns regarding wages, job security, irrigation, crop pricing, and timely access to government support schemes. Tribal communities emphasise the need for protection of land and forest rights and effective delivery of welfare programs.