West Bengal's political battleground is heating up as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Mamata Banerjee prepare to lock horns in the key constituency of Cooch Behar. Both leaders are scheduled to address rallies in the region today, intensifying their campaign efforts ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
In what promises to be a high-octane showdown, Mamata Banerjee is slated to hold a rally in Cooch Behar around noon, while Prime Minister Modi will take the stage at Rasleela ground in the constituency around 3 pm. With the venues located approximately 30 kilometers apart, the rival rallies are expected to draw massive crowds and set the tone for the electoral battle in this crucial region.
Cooch Behar, one of the three constituencies in West Bengal going to polls in the first phase on April 19, has emerged as a focal point of political contention. Tensions have escalated between supporters of incumbent BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik, who is seeking re-election, and TMC leader and Bengal minister Udayan Guha.
The electoral landscape in Cooch Behar is further intensified by the candidacy of Jagadish Barma Basunia, representing the TMC and hailing from the Rajbanshi community. Basunia, the sitting MLA of Sitai, poses a formidable challenge to Pramanik's bid for another term.
Once considered a stronghold of the Left Front constituent All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), which held the seat for an uninterrupted 32 years from 1977 to 2009, Cooch Behar has witnessed a significant shift in political allegiance.
The BJP has solidified its position in the region, winning five of the seven Assembly segments during the 2021 state polls, establishing it as a bastion for the party.
Follow us
