The boxing ring terminology is not quite off the mark in the backdrop of the war of words that erupted between the two individuals whose views are the last words in their respective political outfits. In fact, as the campaign rolled on amidst the verdant tea gardens of North Bengal, the two leaders languages and gestures reminded voters of pugilists

But that apart, the duo for all their ideological difference are only too aware of the value of each Lok Sabha seat in the run-up to the government formation in the coming months. Moreover, it is galling to the TMC supremo that BJP nominees had emerged victorious in Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar and Alipurduar constituencies in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Given the juggernaut of the economic development and social security schemes of the TMC government, it was the chief minister's belief that there ought to be no room in her turf for the saffron camp. The carpet bombing of programmes in which 13 public meetings and three road shows were held by her in 14 days was an all out effort to reduce BJP tally of seats in a part of West Bengal where it bagged seven out of eight seats in 2019 parliamentary polls.

The tally of seats which the BJP won in the previous election ought to have been a pointer to its promising days in 2024 elections. But the situation I not so, it has changed substantially following the 2021 assembly and 2023 panchayat poll.

The frequency of the election tours of Prime Minister Modi in north Bengal is an indicator that all is not well with the saffron camp in north Bengal. The prime minister has tested the waters and found there are uncharted depths which the three BJP MPs failed to reduce in their tenure

A drop in the starvation deaths in the tea gardens can be stated to be a triumph of the .rationing system of the state government. The BJP MPs from this area failed to propagate that the Union government headed by Prime Minister Modi ensured free supply of food grains during the pandemic and thereafter.

It needed the Prime Minister Modi to remind people of the Union government schemes which stood between them and going without food during the pandemic. But then the Prime Minister must have thanked his stars that the TMC campaigning focused on local issues and not the Supreme Court 's order on electoral bonds which put the PM and his party in poor light.

Bread and butter issues are underscored by both the star campaigners. National issues did not quite gain centre stage at this stage of poll campaign.

One wonders whether Alipurduar , a seat reserved for scheduled tribe, is ripe for plucking by TMC this time given internal squabble in local BJP ever since denial of nomination to sitting MP John Barla. Manoj Tigga is contesting against Prakash Chik Baraik of Trinamool in this constituency.

But the hatchet was buried just as Barla was about to contest as an Independent nominee, he was seen seeking votes in Tigga's favour. The prime minister is stated to have made peace between the warring factions.

The TMC government having declared Alipurduar to be a separate district is expecting rich electoral dividend. For the TMC candidate. It remains to be seen how the effect of this declaration makes its impact among the Nepali and tribal communities who are dominant inhabitants of this constituency.

Jayanta Kumar Roy, the sitting BJP MP of Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha reserved for scheduled caste nominees found himself in the backfoot owing to a vagary of nature. When a strong storm recently flattened a portion of this constituency ,Mamata Banerjee was the first leader to rush to the disaster spot.

It certainly got the TMC nominee Nirmal Chandra Roy a leg up especially after TMC's second in command leader and the supremo's nephew Abhishek Banerjee claimed had the affected persons been living under concrete roofs, their plight would have been better. Had the "Modi government" been paying its dues under PM Awas Yojana-Grameen, such houses would have come up, he said underscoring his point.

It was a smart piece of work on TMC number two's part to highlight a Centre-state issue as a topic of deprivation. Indeed Banerjee has scored a brownie point for his party nominee Roy who is stressing how TMC is undertaking development schemes for the development of north Bengal.

It is in the erstwhile native state of Coochbehar Lok Sabha where Union minister of state for home Nisith Pramanik is pitted against TMC nominee Jagadish Basunia. It is fight between two Rajbanshis though none can promise the Union Territory status for this seat and areas around it. Indeed BJP is facing the hiccups which it thought it had dispensed with nomination and selection of Anant Maharaj in Rajya Sabha.

A Rajbanshi face, the Rajya Sabha MP got a royal snub from Union home minister Amit Shah who ruled out the Union Territory demand. It has embarrassed the junior home minister Pramanik too.

It remains to be seen from the election results if TMC's recognition of Rajbanshi language, setting up of Rajbanshi Bhasa Academy, recognition to 200 Rajbanshi schools and giving allowance Bhawaiya folk artistes sees Nirmal Roy through. The saffron camp cannot look away from the fact it's promises to these sons of the soil have been tall talk and TMC has got a chance to claim that Modi Guarantee is fake, only Mamata guarantee works in the districts of Bengal. (IPA Service)