Mamata to campaign from 22 July

SNS, Siliguri, 17 July : Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will start rural poll campaigning for two districts of Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri from 22 July, party sources said. 

Following the party leaders’ demands, chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee has changed her schedule and decided to attend two rallies in Jalpaiguri district. 

Earlier it was decided that Miss Banerjee would address a rally at Dinhata in Cooch Behar and another public meeting at Alipurduar area on 22 July. 

Notably, the Cooch Behar district Trinamul Congress committee initially decided to organise a public meeting for the chief minister at Dinhata in the first half and at Mathabanga in the second half in Cooch Behar district. 

It was also decided the chief minister would address a rally only at Alipurduar sub-division in Jalpaiguri district and she did not have any plan to address a rally in Jalpaiguri sub-division. But paying heed to the party leaders’ demands for north Bengal, the chief minister has agreed to address two rallies in Jalpaiguri district on 23 July. 

The Cooch Behar district Trinamul Congress president, Mr Rabindranath Ghosh, said: “Mamata Banerjee would arrive at Bagdogra Airport on 22 July and she would leave for Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar by road. She will try to reach at Mathabanga around 4.30 p.m. We will finish the programme by 6 p.m. so that people, who are observing a fast can breakfast on time.” 

Party sources said the decision to go by road to Cooch Behar would be a part of poll campaigning on her way to Mathabhanga. According to the Jalpaiguri district Trinamul Congress president, Mr Chandan Bhowmik, the chief minister would address a rally at Jateshwar in the Falakata police station in Alipurduar sub-division, where the party has a strong hold. Miss Banerjee would arrive at Jateshwar around 12 p.m. and leave for Thakurpath in the Dhupguri block in Jalpaiguri sub-division. 

The party leaders would start the programme at 3 p.m. to finish the public rally by 5 p.m. at Thakurpath in Dhupguri. Party sources have not yet disclosed where the chief minister will stay at night on 22 and 23 July for security reasons.