Focus on CM camp visit to woo tribals

The tribals rally in Siliguri on Monday. (Kundan Yolmo) 

TT, Siliguri, Dec. 29: Trinamul leaders in the tribal belts of Siliguri subdivision, particularly in the tea gardens in the Dooars, are highlighting Mamata Banerjee's recent visit to the relief camps in Kumargram with an eye on the rural polls.

Trinamul leaders, who are eyeing maximum seats in the 22 panchayats, four panchayat samitis and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in the coming polls, are approaching tribals - who make up almost 50 per cent of the total population of 2.5 lakh in the Terai gardens.

The rural polls are likely to be held in April next year,

"Mamata Banerjee is the only leader to visit the camps where around 2,000 people from Assam, mostly adivasis, have been staying for over a week. She has distributed winter garments and instructed officials to ensure proper and regular distribution of relief material. She has also made it clear that the state has no problem if they decide to stay back (in Bengal)," a Trinamul leader in Naxalbari, 30km from here in the Terai, said.

"None of the leaders or ministers from Assam has visited these people. We are highlighting Mamata Banerjee's concern and sincerity while speaking to people in the tribal belts of the Terai," he added.

On December 27, Mamata had visited two camps in Alipurduar's Kumargram where over 2,000 people from Assam are staying following attacks by Bodo militants.

Observers said Trinamul was trying to woo tribal voters in the region. "Even after Trinamul's best efforts in the Parliament polls, it was the BJP that scored over the party in Matigara-Naxalbari and Phansidewa Assembly segments, which are in the SMP area, by 9,677 nd 4,911 votes respectively. Trinamul leaders have launched a political exercise to build support," said an observer. "They have been harping on development issues. Now they have another point, Mamata's visit to the camps, as they feel it can help them win over the tribal vote bank."

There are 50-odd tea estates in the Terai and almost half of the population comprises tribals. "Most of the remaining workers are Gorkhas, while a small portion is Rajbangshis. Whoever the tribals vote for would win the SMP polls. Trinamul is pulling all stops to woo them," he added.

A Trinamul insider said: "It is a major drawback on our part that our trade unions do not have control over majority of tea workers, whether in the Terai, the Dooars or the Darjeeling hills. Even today, it is the Joint Forum (a platform of 23 trade unions) and its constituents like Citu and Intuc who are calling shots."

He added: Now that the chief minister has visited the tribals from Assam, it has opened up an opportunity for us to approach the tribals, most of them are tea workers in the Terai and Dooars, to join our trade union and support our party."

Minister Gautam Deb today said: "What the chief minister has done is unparallel. It is evident that our party workers and local leaders have felt encouraged by her visit. Naturally, they would refer to her gesture while speaking to people."

Today, 200-odd tribals, under the banner of Calcutta-based Adivasi Socio-Educational and Cultural Association, held a rally here. They submitted a memorandum addressed to the district magistrate of Darjeeling, demanding that the Bengal government speak to the Centre and the Assam on rehabilitation and compensation of the victims.