A faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) headed by Bangshibadan Barman will support Trinamul in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat.

Barman, who held a workers’ meet of the association at a village in Dinhata subdivision of the district on Sunday, unequivocally asserted that they will stand in support of Mamata Banerjee and her party.

“Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has done a lot for the Rajbanshi community. No other party has done anything. That is why we will support the Trinamul candidate. I want each of us to vote for Trinamul,” said Barman, while addressing the GCPA workers.

The GCPA, which was formed over the demand of a separate Greater Cooch Behar state, has divided into multiple factions. The most prominent faction, which has a considerable support base, is headed by Barman.

Nagen Roy aka Ananta Maharaj, who is a BJP MP in the Rajya Sabha, heads another faction. Also, there is a third faction which comprises leaders disgruntled with both Barman and Roy.

At the workers’ meeting on Sunday, Barman had invited Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia, the Trinamul candidate.

“Each worker of our association should approach people and seek votes for Trinamul. They should mention the series of initiatives and decisions that Mamata Banerjee has taken for us,” Barman said.

Among these include creation of development and welfare board for Rajbanshis, two language academies, installation of the statue of Chila Roy (the fiercest fighter of the Cooch Behar royal family), creating Narayani battalion (in the name of the royal troops) in the state police and recognition of around 200 Rajbanshi-medium schools.

“The GCPA’s support will definitely help us in winning this seat. BJP has made empty promises to draw votes in the previous elections. This time, people will not respond,” Basunia, the Trinamul candidate, said.

Political observers said that in Cooch Behar district, the support of Rajbanshis decided the electoral outcome.

“But unlike Bangshibadan Barman, who is mobilizing his support base for Trinamul, no such initiative has been noticed in the other factions, including the group headed by Nagen Roy. The MP himself is sitting silent. It would be interesting to see how BJP galvanise its support in the seat,” said an observer.