Mausam’s campaign worries BJP in N Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, April 15: The BJP contesting candidate for North Malda parliamentary constituency is worried about a change of mood in his party's vote bank, following the Congress candidate Miss Mausam Noor's impressive election campaigning in the Hindu-dominated belt.

In many Hindu dominated areas like Gazole, Habibpur and Old Malda, traditional BJP voters are deciding to cast their future vote in favour of ‘Barket-er Bhagin’ (Miss Mausam Noor).

“Past BJP supporters are turning towards Barkat-er Bhagin (Bhagni) because the BJP candidate may not win against the Congress or the CPI-M,” said a grosser in Old Malda Assembly constituency.

To check this trend, BJP candidate Mr Amlan Bhaduri and BJP district leaders have told the state leaders to invite Mr Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, for campaigning in North Malda.

“The swing trend is very alarming and has come from south Bengal to north Bengal. Common BJP supporters and voters (not committed) are thinking to cast their vote in favour of a candidate who will be able to win. In a triangular fight, common people may select either of the two nearest candidates,” said a BJP district committee leader.

“The trend is difficult to check by only holding meetings at booth level or any other level. It can be checked if we launch a massive election campaign with big political personalities. I have reported the matter to the state and seek Mr Narendra Modi for election campaigning in Gazole to stem the trend away from the BJP,” said candidate Mr Bhaduri.

On the other hand, a group of CPI-M leaders, including the candidate for North Malda Mr Sailen Sarkar, blame the BJP for selling votes to the Congress.

The BJP candidate Mr Amlan Bhaduri retorted to the allegation: “The Congress candidate and leaders are approaching our voters in Habibpur and Gazole, tribal and backward class dominated areas, urging them to cast votes for the Congress in Parliament elections, and suggesting that they vote for the BJP in the Assembly election.”

“BJP voters will not swing to other parties if our workers can boldly say that the BJP candidate will win in the elections. We have planned to bring Mr Narendra Modi to Gazole, to gear up BJP workers and supporters and, where necessary, bring them back to the BJP. We have sought technical information ensuring that Mr Modi's helicopter can land directly at Gazole between 25 to 27 April,” said Mr Asim Chakraborty, BJP state committee leader.