As the inaugural phase of Lok Sabha elections unfolds in West Bengal, attention is drawn to the constituency of Cooch Behar, alongside two other northern Bengal seats, in what marks the commencement of electoral proceedings in the state.
The Cooch Behar constituency, notable for the tragic events of the 2021 assembly elections where four individuals lost their lives in firing allegedly by central forces in Sitalkuchi, remains a focal point in the current electoral campaign.
Union Minister of State for Home Nisith Pramanik faces a challenge from TMC's Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia in the Cooch Behar (SC) seat.
Jalpaiguri (SC) and Alipurduars (ST) constituencies also feature prominently in the first phase of the seven-phase electoral process in West Bengal, encompassing a total of 42 Lok Sabha seats.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) have intensified their efforts to sway voters in these northern Bengal constituencies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed public gatherings in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, while TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and party leader Abhishek Banerjee conducted numerous rallies and roadshows in the region.
Despite BJP's victory in all three constituencies during the 2019 general elections, the dynamics shifted in the 2021 assembly polls, with TMC securing a stronghold in Jalpaiguri. However, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar remained bastions for the BJP.
PM Modi focused on allegations of corruption within the state government and highlighted issues such as law and order, including the Sandeshkhali incidents, while TMC leadership emphasised grievances such as the denial of central funds, the Sitalkuchi firing, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and recent natural calamities.
The BJP has retained candidates Jayanta Roy in Jalpaiguri and Nisith Pramanik in Cooch Behar, while replacing last term's winner John Barla with Manoj Tigga in Alipurduars.
Conversely, the TMC has introduced new candidates in all three constituencies, nominating Prakash Chik Baraik, Nirmal Chandra Roy, and Basunia in Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar respectively.
The Left Front and the Congress, in a seat-sharing alliance, are contesting the 2024 elections in West Bengal. Despite their separate campaigns in 2019, both parties garnered single-digit vote shares in each constituency.
While Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar have maintained relative calm during the campaign period, sporadic instances of violence have been reported in Cooch Behar, which shares borders with Bangladesh to the west.
The rivalry between Pramanik and TMC's Udayan Guha, Dinhata MLA and North Bengal Development Minister, has contributed to the prevailing tension in Cooch Behar.
In light of the Sitalkuchi incident, the Election Commission has opted not to deploy CISF personnel in the area, instead deploying BSF, CRPF, or ITBP personnel.
Cooch Behar will witness an augmented presence of security forces, with approximately 112 companies of central forces and 4,500 state police personnel stationed for the April 19 polls.
Overall, the first phase of elections will witness a total of 56,26,108 eligible voters across 5,814 polling booths, setting the stage for a crucial electoral process in West Bengal.
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