Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said she would always stand by religious, linguistic and ethnic minorities in a bid to woo voters from different communities in north Bengal where identity politics plays an important role in determining electoral outcomes.

“The minorities in Bengal should remember that Didi is there for them and nobody can infringe upon their rights. You are safe here. The same stands for the Rajbanshis and the Kamtapuri people and all others. Didi is there forevery resident of the state and we will do all that I need tofor the protection of our people,” the chief minister said while addressing a public meeting at Kranti in Jalpaiguri district.

The fact that Mamata referred to Muslims — who comprise at least 28 per cent of the electorate in the state — at the beginning of her speech assumes importance at a time some observers are raising questions about the Trinamul Congress's ability to retain its support in the minority community following the rise of the ISF as a potent political force in some parts of south Bengal.

Seeking to court Muslims, the Trinamul chairperson targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, albeit without naming him, in her speech.

“The BJP government is there for another six months.... The elections will be held in February-March and then, they will go. In desperation, they are now trying to lobby (various communities) and you can see them (Modi) sharing photos with people of the minority community,” she said, referring to some pictures which show Modi with Muslims during his recent Egypt trip.

“If I know India, the BJP will be wiped out in next year’s general election,” Mamata added in the rally organised as part of Trinamul's campaign for the July 8 panchayat elections.

She contested the BJP narrative that Trinamul was facing anti-incumbency and said the ruling party had a considerable support base across Bengal and would emerge victorious in all three tiers of the panchayat system.

“No one else has the dedication to defeat us. We are determined to ensure peaceful elections and will win in all three tiers of the panchayat system,” Mamata said.

The chief minister highlighted her government's achievements in north Bengal like the distribution of land rights to and construction of free houses for tea garden workers, promotion of tourism in tea plantations and the formation of the Sadri language academy.

Identity politics has always played a major role in polls in north Bengal, which has a significant number of Muslims, Rajbanshis, Gorkhas and Adivasis.

In recent years, the BJP and a number of regional parties in north Bengal played identity politics, which helped them electorally in the Rajbanshi, tribal and Gorkha-dominated belts.

“To counter their strategy, the chief minister has taken an all-inclusive approach to gain the support of all communities, while wielding the cards of secularism and development,” said an observer.

The chief minister also repeated her pledge that the government would ensure that no one asked for bribes while enrolling common people in various welfare schemes.

“If anyone asks for money, tell him that you will call me at the helpline,” she said.

Parleys

After the public meeting, Mamata held a brief discussion with some north Bengal Trinamul leaders at the venue. Before boarding the chopper to leave for Bagdogra, she asked them to start preparing for next year’s Lok Sabha polls.