The BJP has started eyeing the tribal belt in Malda district, but Trinamul for now has managed to convince five disgruntled tribal leaders to stay with the party.

On Friday, BJP’s national secretary Arvind Menon spent the day at Habibpur town of Malda trying to woo tribal farmers by promising “golden days” if the BJP was voted in.

Trinamul managed to retain five presidents of area committees of Bamangola block, which falls under Habibpur Assembly seat after a closed-door meeting with district party president Mausam Noor. All had recently resigned from party posts after criticising the party leadership.

Tribal voters form the bulk in three out of 12 Assembly segments in Malda district.

In 2016, the CPM managed to win two and the third had gone to Congress. The two CPM MLAs, however, defected to the BJP.

An observer said that the minority community is the deciding factor in the rest nine of the 12 Malda Assembly seats. “So the BJP seems to be concentrating on tribal belts.”

BJP MP from Malda North Khagen Murmu claimed the tribal areas of Malda were “always supportive of the BJP”.

Trinamul had more reasons to cheer with five leaders staying back. “

We had resigned (from party posts) after being fed up with the party block leadership. Joining the BJP was never on our mind,” said Sakeb Hansda, one of the five.