The Trinamul Congress organised marches at three places in the Siliguri subdivision on Wednesday to protest against the BJP government’s citizenship drives.

On Monday, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed party leaders in Siliguri to take out processions in the plains to synchronise with her walkathon in Darjeeling on Wednesday.

“As per the instructions of our party supremo, we held marches in different blocks of the Siliguri subdivision today. Hundreds have attended the marches, which is a proof that people support Mamata Banerjee who has been unequivocally opposing the BJP government’s divisive politics,” said tourism minister Gautam Deb who also walked at Chathat in the Phansidewa block.

Ranjan Sarkar, the Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamul president, said two other marches had been held at Ghoshpukur (also in the Phansidewa block) and Naxalbari. “Our activities on the NRC, CAA and the NPR will continue. Residents of Siliguri had expressed their support for us on January 3 when Mamata Banerjee had marched on the citizen issues for the first time in north Bengal,” said Sarkar.

Trinamul conducted the processions in the rural areas ahead of elections to the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad. The party has never won the SMP or Matigara-Naxalbari and Phansidewa Assembly seats.

“Trinamul is keen to win the rural elections which would be the party’s final test in the Siliguri subdivision ahead of the Assembly polls in 2021. That is why the party is preparing the ground,” said an observer.