Jamshedpur: The BJP is pinning hopes on veteran politician
Champai Soren to improve its prospects in the tribal assembly constituencies in West Bengal.
Ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections scheduled this year, the party identified Purulia, Bankura, Medinipur and Jhargram districts for Champai to strengthen the party's foothold.
On Wednesday, a delegation of BJP leaders visited Champai at his residence in Seraikela to discuss organisational matters in the run-up to the polls.
He himself refrained from speaking on the matter, but people privy to the meeting spoke about the former CM’s Bengal plans.
“Dada urged the party workers to strongly oppose the anti-tribal policies and programmes of the
Trinamool Congress govt on the ground and, at the same time, unite the tribal voters against the state govt and make them aware of the pro-adivasi programmes initiated by the Modi govt,” said an aide of Champai who was privy to the discussions.
The party leaders said that the former chief minister was given the task of touring the four districts after Holi and working out a plan for mass agitation programmes to build a political atmosphere against the state govt.
Apart from being a popular tribal leader, he is an articulate speaker in Hindi, Bengali and Santhali. The party wants him to connect with the people, particularly with rural voters, and build a favourable atmosphere for the party, leaders said.
The party high command spared him from the municipal poll campaign and asked him to focus on Bengal, party insiders said.
“Of late, Champai is in regular touch with the intellectuals and social organisation leaders of the tribal community of Bengal and often discussed issues of their interest,” said a party leader.
Further, Champai’s associates said that the 4 districts, which are anchored on the borders of Jharkhand and have a sizeable population of the Santhali tribe, were familiar districts for Champai from his days in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Based in Jamshedpur, he covers entire Kolhan region having three ...
Read MoreBased in Jamshedpur, he covers entire Kolhan region having three districts namely East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan reporting on topics such as left wing extremism, city life, urban policies and issues among other wide ranging topics.
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