Factional divide surfaces as TMC steps up public outreach in Cooch Behar
The Statesman | 26 November 2025
With the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) nearing completion, the Trinamul Congress in Cooch Behar has intensified its public outreach. However, deep factionalism within the party has become increasingly visible, as two rival groups are conducting parallel campaigns—one through political outreach and the other strictly through SIR-based interactions.
Party insiders admit that two distinct TMC factions have been moving in opposite directions in Cooch Behar, each trying to consolidate their support base.
During his visit to Dinhata, north Bengal development minister Udayan Guha issued an unusually blunt warning to residents over stalled roadwork.
“If you don’t vote this time, I will not lay even a single stone chip,” he said, expressing anger over lack of support.
A supporter accompanying him urged locals to “give your word,” as discussions centred on road construction and complaints that former Union minister Nishit Pramanik is “never seen” in the area.
Pramanik had narrowly defeated Guha by 57 votes in the Assembly election, but Guha returned with a record 1.64-lakh-vote victory in the subsequent bypoll.
In a separate move, the faction led by former TMC district president Rabindranath Ghosh and ex-MP Partha Pratim Roy has chosen to focus solely on SIR-related public interactions. On Tuesday, Ghosh, who won the Natabari seat in 2016 but lost to the BJP in 2021—conducted SIR outreach in his home constituency to reconnect with voters.
Meanwhile, in Cooch Behar South, district TMC president Abhijit De Bhowmik sharpened his criticism of the central government, accusing it of withholding funds for the 100-day job scheme, housing projects, and drinking water initiatives.
He said the state government was forced to continue development work despite the alleged fund freeze, pointing out that only 200 houses were sanctioned in one Ghughumari booth and that work on a 4.5-km road had already started.
De Bhowmik urged residents to elect the “right representative,” alleging that the sitting BJP MLA had “failed to deliver” in the past five years.
His early-morning visits to multiple villages have drawn strong public response and are expected to continue for several more days.