Development vs discord: Battle for key north Bengal seats heats up.

PTI, March 31, 2026, Siliguri: Siliguri and Dabgram-Fulbari, two constituencies in north Bengal, have turned into battlegrounds ahead of the assembly elections, where narratives of development, identity, and law and order are colliding head-on.

The Trinamool Congress is trying to recover ground lost to the BJP, a task made tougher by the saffron surge in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where the BJP widened its lead significantly over the Mamata Banerjee-led party.

The BJP has fielded its winning faces, Sankar Ghosh in Siliguri and Sikha Chatterjee in Dabgram-Fulbari, banking on continuity and a campaign that targets alleged governance lapses.

The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, has reshuffled its deck, moving Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb from Dabgram-Fulbari to Siliguri in an effort to reclaim the urban seat.

However, it is emotion and outrage that are shaping the discourse now.

The death of a teenage girl, who was found hanging in her home recently, has ignited a political storm.

Claiming that Deb visited the bereaved family about 36 hours after the incident, Ghosh has questioned the safety of people in the city under Deb’s leadership and alleged administrative apathy.

“Is Siliguri really safe under its self-proclaimed guardian?” Ghosh asked, demanding the arrest of a private tutor whom the BJP alleged was responsible for the girl’s death.

He claimed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who held public meetings in constituencies adjacent to Siliguri, did not spare a word on the death.

Deb has attempted a counter by blending Hindutva with development messaging.

His participation in Ram Navami celebrations and chants of “Jai Shri Ram” signal an effort to connect with Siliguri’s sizeable Hindi-speaking Hindu electorate, while still accusing the BJP of playing divisive politics.

Deb has gone on the offensive as well, alleging that the BJP thrives on polarisation and is encouraging demands for the division of West Bengal.