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TMC, BJP focus on North Bengal as 2026 poll battle heats up

TMC, BJP focus on North Bengal as 2026 poll battle heats up

Time of India18-05-2025
Kolkata: With an eye towards the West Bengal Assembly election in 2026, BJP and Trinamool Congress-both the political parties are trying to strengthen their positions in North Bengal. To boost Trinamool Congress's presence in North Bengal, West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee
will be on a three-day visit starting from May 19. Meanwhile, LoP Suvendu Adhikari will also visit North Bengal's Banarhat, following switch over by former Union Minister John Barla, which will impact the tea garden vote bank, from BJP to Trinamool Congress.
The Bengal Chief Minister will participate in an administrative review meeting with officials of all district administrations, district officials from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar. She will also take part in a Synergy Business conference on Tuesday in Oldabari.
Former BJP Union Minister and tea-belt heavyweight leader John Barla last Thursday joined Trinamool Congress, weakening BJP's strength in the tea garden belt of North Bengal. After the exodus of around 10 BJP MLAs since 2021, Barla leaving BJP was a jolt to the party ahead of 2026 polls, especially in the tea belt region of North Bengal, which had swayed towards the saffron party from 2019 Lok sabha polls, 2021 assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Barla had a substantial hold on tea garden belts of Alipurduar and was MP from the Alipurduar seat. He became junior minister in the Modi cabinet allso. However, he was not given a ticket in 2024 Lok Sabha polls and in 2024, Manoj Tigga contested and won from the seat, widening the breach between BJP and Barla.
Meanwhile, a recent reshuffle was conducted by Trinamool Congress leadership in the organizational framework in Birbhum. Trinamool Congress Supremo has assigned responsibility to conduct election and other related work to a Core-Committee, which will look into the coming 2026 elections in Birbhum, with senior leader Asish Banerjee as the Chairperson. Until recently, the Core Committee was monitored by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Anubrata Mondal, the heavyweight leader of Trinamool COngress, who was Birbhum District President, has been removed from the post and no one is heading the post as of now. Mondal was arrested by ED and returned to his home in Birbhum district's Bolpur town in September last year with his daughter, Sukanya, after both were granted bail by the courts in Delhi in cases related to cattle smuggling.
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Asish Banerjee held a Core Committee meeting today in Birbhum, while former President Anubrata Mondal was recently removed, during a reshuffle.
"It has been decided in the Core Committee Meeting, several political programmes will be organized from May 25-27," Asish Banerjee said.
"We have urged the party workers that they should exercise restraint while writing anything on social media. It has been decided that stern action will be taken against those who violate such rules," Asish Banerjee said.
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