Mamata Dooars trip in mid-March

TT; March. 6: Mamata Banerjee is expected to visit the Dooars for three days in mid-March to attend government programmes. “The chief minister will visit the Dooars from March 12 to 14. She will attend one or more government programmes in the region.

 We have inspected some of the sites today and will soon finalise one or more locations in consultation with the Jalpaiguri district administration and the state government,” said Gautam Deb, the north Bengal development minister.

 Mamata had visited the Dooars on December 28 last year and had distributed benefits such as secured land tenures to the poor. During her visit this month she is expected to hand over land rights to rural people and make announcements for development in the Dooars.

 According to political observers, Trinamul, which lacks an organisational and trade union base in the Dooars, is trying to increase its support base by implementing government schemes.

 “The visit is significant as Trinamul leaders have realised that it is tough for them to woo Morcha supporters to vote in their favour or forge an alliance with the hill party in the Terai and Dooars. Also, the Congress is trying to obtain the Morcha’s support.

 Trinamul is focusing on the Dooars now and trying to win the support of tribals,” said a source. Today, Deb, along with the party’s Jalpaiguri district president Chandan Bhowmik, went to Malbazar and held talks with the subdivisional officer. 

 The duo then visited three sites under the subdivision where the government events can be held during the chief minister’s visit. According to government sources, Mamata will felicitate winners of an archery competition organised by the Jalpaiguri district police at Nagrakata during her visit. 

 With the rural polls round the corner, the chief minister’s visit has led to speculations in political circles, which has further intensified as both the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the JMM led by John Barla have welcomed the trip. 

 “We had submitted a memorandum to the chief minister last month and we expect that she would come with some new projects and plans for the Dooars,” said Barla.