Ananta Maharaj, a Rajbanshi leader who heads one of the factions of Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association, is growing in importance among leaders of both Trinamul and the BJP in the run-up to the panchayat elections.
Over the past few days, leaders of both parties met him at his residence in Borogila village, Chakchaka, on the outskirts of Cooch Behar town.
Though the leaders and Ananta claimed these were “courtesy visits", political veterans in the district feel the rival parties were trying to woo him because of his clout among Rajbanshis.
Union minister of state for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, who is also the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, met Ananta in the past one week. So did Rabindranath Ghosh, senior Trinamul leader and the civic chief of Cooch Behar, and his daughter Papia, who is also the Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamul president.
On Wednesday, Rajib Banerjee, who is overseeing campaigning for Trinamul in the district, reached Ananta’s residence.
“It was just a courtesy call. No political discussions,” said Banerjee.
“In Cooch Behar, there will be a strong political contest between Trinamul and the BJP in Saturday's rural polls. While the saffron camp wants to retain its base, Mamata Banerjee’s party is desperate to revive its support. That is why it seems leaders of both these parties are approaching Ananta Maharaj for his support,” said a senior political leader in the region.
He said that in February 2021, Union home minister Amit Shah also met Ananta in Bongaigaon of Assam.
A political observer said that Ananta, as a community leader, was believed to have the power to influence Rajbanshi votes. "It is with the support of this community that the BJP could bag Lok Sabha seats and most of the Assembly seats in Rajbanshi-dominated belts. This time, as the contest is at the micro level, it is tougher. Both Trinamul and the BJP don’t want to take any chance."
On Wednesday, Ananta told newspersons that he would continue to demand separate statehood.
Being told that Trinamul was against it, he said: “Let them oppose it. They will do their job and I will do mine.”
