A faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) headed by Ananta Maharaj that is known to have a considerable clout among the Rajbanshi community of north Bengal has decided to invite chief minister Mamata Banerjee at the birth anniversary celebrations of Chila Roy, an icon of the community, later this month.

Shukladhwaj, popularly known as Chila Roy, was the younger brother of King Naranarayan of the Cooch Behar royal family and was also known as a fierce fighter. On February 16, GCPA will celebrate his 512th birth anniversary.

“We will celebrate his birth anniversary and also a central convention of our organisation on February 15 and 16. At the event, we will invite chief minister Mamata Banerjee,” said Sumal Adhikari, the Cooch Behar district secretary of GCPA.

The move is significant and indicates that the Ananta faction of GCPA is inclining at Trinamul. Earlier, it was with BJP and supporters and leaders of the faction were largely seen at the public meetings of the saffron camp held in the region.

In fact, Union home minister Amit Shah had met Ananta, who used to stay in Assam then, last year before the Assembly elections.

“Ananta Maharaj had been staying in Assam as he has been named in a number of police cases registered in Bengal. He has returned to Bengal a few months back and is openly moving around. It was an important development and now this decision to invite the chief minister at the event indicates that he is distancing himself from the saffron camp and getting closer to Trinamul,” said a political observer.

While Ananta had remained glued to the saffron camp, Mamata had got Bangshibadan Barman, who heads another faction of GCPA on board. Barman was even put in different posts at the cultural and development board of Rajbanshis and at the Rajbanshi Bhasa Academy.

“Bangshibadan Barman, however, could not come up with results for Trinamul, both in the Lok Sabha polls and at the Assembly elections held last year. This might be another reason which might have made the Trinamul leadership to get the faction led by Ananta Maharaj on their side,” the observer added.

For the celebrations, the GCPA has already started making preparations at Pushnatdabri, a locality in Siddeshwari village of Cooch Behar II block, located around 15 kilometres from the district headquarter.

That the preparations are in full swing is evident as the state PWD has taken the task to build a bituminous road that connects the venue from Baneswar railway station area for smooth movement of vehicles during the event, said sources.

Significantly, the chief minister, while speaking at a state level administrative review meeting held at the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Calcutta on Thursday, had told the district magistrate and the district police chief of Cooch Behar that she might visit the district later this month.

Adhikari, the GCPA leader, said they are yet to get a confirmation.

“Our leaders are in touch with appropriate authorities. We want the chief minister to attend the event,” he said.