Jalpaiguri, April 20 -- As the Assembly elections approach, political divisions within the Namasudra community are becoming increasingly evident, with different organisations openly aligning with rival parties and stepping up campaign activities across North Bengal.
Two main Namasudra bodies-the All India Namasudra Parishad and the All India Namasudra Kalyan Parishad-have adopted contrasting political positions this election season. The All India Namasudra Parishad has maintained its long-standing association with the Trinamool Congress, while the All India Namasudra Kalyan Parishad has recently extended its support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mukul Bairagya, executive president of the All India Namasudra Parishad and chairman of the State Namasudra Development Board, has been actively campaigning for Trinamool candidates. He has played a key role in promoting the party's campaign in North Bengal, including backing candidate Swapna Barman in the Rajganj Assembly Constituency. Bairagya is also participating in campaign activities in South Bengal.
On the other hand, the All India Namasudra Kalyan Parishad has thrown its weight behind the BJP. State chairman Biswajit Sarkar said the decision followed a formal appeal from BJP state president Shamik Bhattacharya. "The BJP has made several commitments regarding issues such as infiltration, unemployment, and corruption. After internal discussions, we have decided to support the party in this election," Sarkar said.
The organisation has already begun campaigning, putting up banners in support of BJP candidate Dinesh Sarkar (Haradhan) in Rajganj.
Another organisation, Namasudra Samaj, has not officially declared its political stance, though it is believed to be leaning towards the BJP.
Despite these organisational divisions, candidates from both major parties are actively reaching out to Namasudra voters. BJP's Jalpaiguri Sadar candidate Anantadev Adhikari said his party is working to instil confidence among the community. Meanwhile, Trinamool candidate Krishna Das alleged irregularities in voter lists, accusing the BJP of influencing the removal of certain names.
With multiple groups taking divergent positions, the Namasudra vote bank appears increasingly fragmented, a factor that could significantly impact electoral outcomes in several key constituencies.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.