Siliguri, April 10 -- In a clear sign of the high-stakes battle unfolding ahead of the Assembly elections in North Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a concerted drive to rein in Independent candidates-seen as potential disruptors capable of splitting its core vote base and unsettling electoral prospects.
The party's strategy is straightforward: persuade Independents, particularly those with grassroots influence, to withdraw from the fray and consolidate votes in favour of official BJP nominees. The move is aimed at preventing division within the Hindu vote bank, which the party considers crucial in several constituencies.
The results, however, have been mixed.
In some cases, BJP leaders-including senior functionaries ...