Battleground Madarihat: TMC, BJP lock horns in high-stake contest

Amitava Banerjee, MP, 11 Nov 2024, Darjeeling: As six Assembly constituencies gear up for bypolls in Bengal, slated for November 13, all eyes have turned to Madarihat Constituency in the northern part of the state. 

The high-stake battle here is mainly between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For both the political camps, Madarihat has emerged as a prestige fight, both unwilling to relinquish even an inch of political space to the other. Madarihat Assembly Constituency, a Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seat, lies in Alipurduar district with areas falling under the Jalpaiguri district as well. 

As per the 2011 census, it has an approximate 40 per cent ST population. The constituency falls in the tea belt spanning across 24 tea estates — 19 in Alipurduar and five in the Banarhat area of Jalpaiguri. 

The by-election has been prompted by BJP leader Manoj Tigga’s resignation from his MLA position and winning from Alipurduar in the Lok Sabha elections. The constituency has a total voter strength of 2,20,101, including 1,08,253 males, 1,11,843 females and 5 third gender. 

There are 7 candidates in the fray, including TMC, BJP, RSP, Congress and 3 Independent candidates. Polling will take place in 226 booths. Victory has long eluded the TMC in this constituency. 

Once a Left Front bastion, the constituency witnessed a power shift. Since 2014, the BJP has been the dominating political party in this constituency, consistently winning both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. 

However, this time the TMC is confident of a win, buoyed by a narrower vote margin between the parties since the 2023 Lok Sabha elections. “With 23 out of the 28 Gram Panchayats of this constituency under TMC’s control, we are certain of winning this seat. 

For decades, the BJP has been misleading the simple tea garden folk with their empty assurances. 

They cannot fool the public forever,” stated TMC candidate Jay Prakash Toppo. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Manoj Tigga of the BJP had won the seat securing 90718 votes, a 54.35 per cent share defeating Rajesh Lakhra of the TMC who had bagged 61,033 votes (36.56 vote share.) 

In the 2016 election, Manoj Tigga had polled 66,989 votes (43.98 per cent) defeating Padam Lama of TMC who had secured 44,951 votes (29.51 per cent). In 2011, Kumari Kujur of RSP secured 42,539 votes (31.93 per cent) defeating Manoj Tigga of the BJP, who secured 34,630 votes (26 per cent). 

“This time too, we are 100 per cent confident of a victory,” stated Rahul Lohar, BJP candidate. 

The election campaign of the two political camps is being led by the two MPs. While Lok Sabha BJP MP Manoj Tigga is the pointsman for the saffron brigade, Prakash Chik Baraik, TMC Rajya Sabha MP, is leading the TMC campaign. 

In the 2013 general elections, Tigga who had secured 6,95,314 votes had defeated Baraik who had bagged 6,19,867 votes. Armed with the development activities by the Mamata Banerjee led Bengal government and with the TMC government in power in the state, Baraik exuded confidence. 

“The state government has lived up to all commitments it has made, especially in the tea belt. There are hundreds of welfare schemes run by the state, including Lakshmir Bhandar for women. We have handed over land right documents to tea garden workers (Pattas) under the Chaa Sundari scheme as well as Rs 1,20,000 for building houses in the Chaa Sundari land. 

Basic infrastructure, including roads, creches, health centers, drinking water facilities have been built by the state government. The long-standing demand of a fire station at Birpara has also been met. 

They are facing a political vacuum and don’t have anything concrete to offer to the public. What has the BJP done for this region except give false assurances?” questioned Prakash Chik Baraik, talking to Millennium Post. 

He stated that if voted to power, the state would continue its development activities. “We will provide Pattas to all landless tea garden workers, a college in Madarihat, upgradation of medical facilities, a connecting road from NH 31 and a Railway overbridge to ease traffic congestions. 

I am sure no one would trade development activities for empty assurances,” said Baraik. TMC ally Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Chief Anit Thapa is also campaigning on behest of the TMC is Gorkha dominated pockets of the constituency, Alipurduar Lok Sabha BJP MP Tigga is equally confident of continuing the winning streak. 

The BJP is attempting to capitalise on the RG Kar incident, with Tigga claiming a victory margin of over 25,000 votes. He framed the bypoll as a fight against TMC atrocities, including the RG Kar case and ongoing violence against women, asserting that women would not vote for TMC and Lakshmir Bhandar would have no impact. 

Tigga noted that many tea garden workers are BJP supporters, and migration from the 7 closed Duncans tea gardens has shifted votes. Political analysts believe the BJP is benefitting from the split of Left votes. 

However, infighting within the BJP threatens its campaign, with former MP John Barla openly criticising the party’s organisation and its choice of Tigga as the candidate. Barla, who has a strong regional base, has distanced himself from the campaign. 

Out of 54 Assembly seats in North Bengal, the TMC holds 27, the BJP 24, BGPM (TMC ally) 1, and 2 constituencies are vacant, going to bypolls on November 13. The bypoll is seen as a crucial test for both parties ahead of the 2026 Assembly election. 

Courtesy & source: Millennium Post

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/state-govt-increases-milling-charges-for-paddy-into-rice-586346?infinitescroll=1