Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Jhargram to attend a programme at Belpahari on November 15 to mark the birth anniversary of the legendary tribal leader Birsa Munda.

The visit has been planned at a time when the Centre’s refusal to release funds under the 100-day rural job scheme has created a new zone of worry for the Bengal government in the Jungle Mahal ahead of next year’s panchayat polls.

As government schemes, including the MGNREGS, falter in four Jungle Mahal districts, there is unrest among poor tribal people.

The Jungle Mahal has Jhargram, West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts.

Namasudra objection to state split

The chairman of the West Bengal Namasudra Welfare Board has come out against demands for separate states that have gained ground in recent months in north Bengal.

“Many of us have borne the brunt of the Partition and do not want to face a similar situation again. We are against the further division of Bengal and do not want even a Union territory as is being demanded from certain quarters. The chief minister has made it clear that the state government and her party are against it. We will stand in her support,” said Mukul Bairagya, the chairman of the board.

The Namasudra community, a Dailt sub-caste, has considerable electoral clout both in north and south Bengal.