The battle between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress is becoming more intensified with every phase in the assembly elections in West Bengal. In the fourth phase between Khela Hobe and Paribortan slogans, 44 assembly seats in five districts will be voted on Saturday. About 1 crore 15 lakh 81 thousand 22 voters will decide the fate of 373 candidates.
In Howrah, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Alipurduar, and Coochbehar districts, the BJP and Trinamool Congress launched sharp verbal attacks on each other even in the fourth phase. TMC supremo Mamata Banaji questioned the fairness of the Election Commission when the notice was given. Accused of leveling up.
On the other hand, State Congress President Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary spoke of supporting the Trinamool if needed. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi did not come for campaigning till the fourth phase of the election.
Competition between these celebrities
BJP has fielded Union Minister and MP Babul Supriyo against Arup Biswas of Trinamool in Toliganj's seat. State Minister Arup is a three-time MLA. Education minister Partha Chatterjee is contesting from Behala West against BJP's actress Shrawanti Chatterjee. Parth is an MLA here for 20 years.
Challenge to avenge the defeat of Lok Sabha in front of Trinamool
In the fourth phase of voting, 14 seats in two districts of North Bengal, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar will be important. Of these, 9 seats are in Cooch Behar and 5 are in Alipurduar. The Trinamool Congress lost both Alipurduar and Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Therefore, it will be a challenge to repeat the performance of the Lok Sabha elections in front of the BJP. Mamta Banerjee has campaigned in these two districts. Cooch Behar was once the capital of the Koch kings. Both BJP and Trinamool parties have made every effort to woo the dynasties.
There has been a long period of rebellion and violence in North Bengal
North Bengal has witnessed a long period of rebellion and violence. The BJP has promised to form the Narayani Army on the lines of other paramilitary forces here. At the same time, the Trinamool Congress has promised to form the Narayani Police Battalion.
Mechhaliganj, Sithalakuchi, and Dinhata constituencies of Cooch Behar are bordered by Bangladesh. The minority population here is around 25 percent. The BJP has been vigorously raising the issue of infiltration here.
Tea workers' wages are a big issue
The economy of the Alipurduar district is dependent on tea cultivation. Labor leader Leos alleges that the daily wages of tea laborers on paper are 202 rupees, but they get much less than this. Manifesto Trinamool has called for an increase in daily wages when it returns to power. The BJP has promised a package of one thousand crores for the plantation laborers of Assam and Bengal.
Competition to take credit on the enclave
The BJP and the Trinamool Congress claimed to have played an important role in resolving the long-standing enclave dispute between India and Bangladesh. The Land Boundary Agreement with Bangladesh in 2015 included 51 Bangladeshi settlements within India within the boundary of India.
111 settlements within Bangladesh were merged into Bangladesh. However, 900 people living in the Indian Enclave in Bangladesh say that the promise made to them was not fulfilled. All these have been settled in Cooch Behar. They have been taken out of the camps and kept in small flats.