With GJM help, BJP may make a mark at Birpara

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya | TNN | Apr 15, 2016: Birpara (Alipurduar): The Birpara-Madarihat seat is perhaps one of the very few in Bengal where BJP is not merely playing the role of a spoiler. For the first time in north Bengal, the saffron party may actually have a chance to win. 
BJP draws its strength from the fact that its candidate, Monoj Tigga, is supported by Gorkha Janmukti Morha (GJM), which has a strong connect with the local population, around 40,000 of whom are Nepali. The community is likely to play a decisive role in determing the fate of the seat. 
"Although adivasis account for 42% of the vote base here, their votes usually get divided among various parties. All RSP, BJP and TMC (Padam Lama is the candidate) will get this vote. Both RSP and BJP have fielded adivasi candidates, while Trinamool has given the ticket to a Nepali, Padam Lama. But he is unlikely to get Nepali votes as GJM is with BJP. This is why Tigga is way ahead of other candidates here," said Sikandar Oraon at Birpara tea estate. Even Tigga seemed confident: 
"We have a genuine chance this time as GJM has extended its support to us. Last time, we came second. This time, we will win." Now that it sniffs a real opportunity, BJP is not keeping any stone unturned. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed a public meeting there on Thursday, also played the Nepali card by declaring that the Centre was considering granting a scheduled tribe status to 11 Nepali-speaking communities.

"There are 11 Nepali-speaking communities that want to be included as scheduled tribes. The Centre has taken up the matter and work has started," Modi said, amid thunderous applause from Nepalis who flocked from Malbazar, Oodlabari, Nagrakata, Kalchini and Jaigaon.

Even in the 2011 assembly elections, Tigga had a considerbale base, losing out to RSP's Kumari Kujur by a narrow margin of 7,909 votes. While Kujur mopped up 42,539 votes, Tigga managed 34,630. Atul Subba of Congress, which at that time had an alliance with the Trinamool, won 26,027 votes. Now, Trinamool is fighting alone, while Congress has joined hands with Left. But as the majority of the Congress leadership here has defected to Trinamool, Congress is hardly a force to reckon with in this seat, a source said.

Pointing out that it was hard to conclude if RSP would benefit, a political observer said, "The BJP is in an advantageous position here. Although its fight is against Kumari Kujur, who is contesting for the fourth time after winning the seat for three consecutive terms, RSP, and for that matter Left, no longer hold sway on the area as most Nepalis have pledged allegiance to the Hills party (GJM)."