Focus on Mukul for BJP plan in north Bengal

TT, Siliguri: Mukul Roy will step into north Bengal for the first time on Thursday after joining the BJP.

The former de facto number two in Trinamul has staunch followers in the region and is expected to meet them in Siliguri to strengthen the BJP's base in north Bengal.

"He will arrive here by train along with state BJP president Dilip Ghosh. Kailash Vijayvargiya, our general secretary, will reach Siliguri by flight. They will hold a meeting of north Bengal BJP leaders to discuss several issues, including preparations for panchayat elections scheduled for next year," said a BJP leader in Siliguri.

BJP sources said Roy might visit some other north Bengal places also, besides Siliguri.

"During such visits, he can meet his followers who have turned inactive in Trinamul after he joined the BJP. Such meetings are politically significant and there could be some major developments," said a source.

Since the 2016 Assembly elections, the BJP has been focussing on north Bengal where it has two MLAs.

"The party's confidence has further been bolstered after it came second in Cooch Behar Lok Sabha by-poll in November last year. Even in civic polls held this year, the BJP managed to grab a considerable percentage of votes. It is obvious that the BJP will try to use Roy to consolidate the party's support base," said an observer.

However, the BJP has suffered a setback in the Dooars last month when a number of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders switched to Trinamul. "The Morcha is an ally of the BJP and Roy will try to make up for the loss," said an observer.