KPP to support Trinamul

KPP president Atul Roy and other party leaders in Siliguri on Wednesday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT, Siliguri: The Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) headed by Atul Roy has decided to support Trinamul in the panchayat elections in north Bengal.

The decision has brought some relief for Trinamul as KPP is known to have considerable clout among the Rajbanshi population of the region.

"We have decided to support Trinamul. This will be our gratitude to chief minister Mamata Banerjee who has recognised the Kamtapuri language and has opened an academy of the language in Jalpaiguri. She has also promised inclusion of the history of Rajbanshis in the school syllabus and would consider the demand to declare state holiday on the birth anniversaries of Chila Roy and Thakur Panchanan Burma (two icons of the community)," he said.

The KPP president, while announcing the decision, admitted that some "over-enthusiastic" party workers might file nominations, particularly in the two lower tiers.

"In case any such worker files a nomination, he would be asked to maintain a close coordination with local Trinamul leaders. This should be done to avoid any confusion," said Roy.

Sources said Trinamul leader and state sports and youth affairs minister Aroop Biswas had recently spoken with Roy, where he was asked to support Trinamul.

This made the KPP president hold a meeting with other leaders and representatives of party's frontal organisations and made the decision.

"At the Assembly polls in 2016, we had supported Trinamul and will support the party again. However, that does not mean that we have compromised with our principal demand of the separate Kamtapur state," he said.

Political observers said KPP's decision would surely bring smiles to the faces of Trinamul candidates contesting in Rajbanshi-dominated seats.

"However, the party is yet to get support from Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association that has a sizeable base in Cooch Behar district and in some other pockets of north Bengal. In Cooch Behar, BJP has built its bases in most areas and thus, Trinamul needs GCPA's support to ensure its win in most seats at all three tiers," said an observer.

The GCPA leaders, including party's general secretary Bangshibadan Burman, will make a decision within couple of days, sources said.