Named Uttarkanya Abhiyan — a march to the branch secretariat of the state government on Siliguri’s southern end — this will be the BJP’s first major political activity in the region in recent months.
“People across the state will see an important political event in Siliguri on Monday. Many important state leaders will lead the rally and we will make our presence felt again,” said Sreerupa Mitra Choudhury, a state vice-president of BJP’s Kishan Morcha.
Party sources said national general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, state party chief Dilip Ghosh, national vice-president Mukul Roy and state general secretary Sayantan Basu will attend the march.
“It has been decided to bring in Tejasvi Surya as the event would be held under the banner of our youth front. He is likely to reach Siliguri on Monday morning,” a party leader said.
Tejasvi is the BJP MP of Bangalore South and the all-India president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
Sources said party leaders in north Bengal districts have been asked to bring in supporters for the rally.
Political analysts said that the BJP wants to reassert its strength through this event in north Bengal where it seeks to win 50 of 54 Assembly seats.
“Also, there have been new developments, such as the departure of the Bimal Gurung faction as an ally and announcements by various community organisations backing Mamata Banerjee,” said an observer. Monday’s Uttarkanya Abhiyan appears to be the start of political activities in north Bengal till the state elections, he pointed out.
The march has also put the police and the administration on alert. Barricades have been readied and additional police forces brought in from other districts, said sources.
Congress march
The state Congress will also organise a march in Raiganj, an erstwhile bastion of the party, on Monday. “Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will attend the rally that will move through different streets of the town. Many prominent leaders will take part in the march,” said Pabitra Chanda, a district Congress leader.
Additional reporting by Kousik Sen in Raiganj
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