Alipurduar’s tribal populace continued to be chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s focus on Wednesday, the third and final day of her visit as she attended a mass marriage of tribal couples.

She also spoke on a series of initiatives taken up by her government for tribal people.

Mamata reached Subhasini tea estate at Kalchini block of the district for the wedding ceremony of 510 tribal couples, organised by state police.

“We have been with you to address your problems and have taken up projects, including free housing for tea workers and their families. These days, tribal students are excelling in education, sports and careers. It is this socio-economic development that we want to witness in the coming years,” she said.

Over the past few weeks, Mamata is focusing on reviving Trinamul’s support base in tribal belts across Bengal, ostensibly to counter inroads made by the BJP.

At the mass marriage, each couple got Rs 25,000, clothes and utensils.

Mamata greeted the couples and the audience in general, and handed over the wedding gifts.

Smiling, she also danced with a tribal troupe.

Mamata Banerjee joins a tribal dance troupe at the mass wedding ceremony on Wednesday

Mamata tried to drive home the point that the BJP, which won MP and MLA seats in Alipurduar, only played politics with the tribal populace.

“Ahead of the elections, the BJP speaks of a separate state, promises to reopen closed tea estates and offers free gas connections. But eventually, they do nothing and leave people helpless amid exorbitant price hikes,” she said.

Two of her cabinet colleagues, Birbaha Hansda and Bulu Chik Baraik, who are from the tribal community, also urged the tribal population to stand by Mamata.

“Some people create misunderstandings to influence the tribal community. We have to understand who is working for our development and who is using us for their own interest,” said Baraik.

Hansda, who called herself an “ordinary Santhali girl”, said tribal people should stand with Mamata to speed up their own development. “We lived with deprivation for decades.... it is only after Mamata Banerjee became the chief minister that our conditions started improving. We should refrain from falling for any enticement and not misunderstand Trinamul,” she said.

“We have to walk together under her leadership as it would ensure our socio-economic development,” she said.

Trinamul functionaries in the district said Mamata’s attendance at the event with two tribal faces of her cabinet would help revive the party’s support base among the community.

“Such a gala mass marriage has not been seen in this region in recent times. The chief minister has proved her sincerity and commitment to the tribal people. The presence of two state ministers from the tribal community and their speeches will surely have an impact,” said a Trinamul leader.