The Trinamul Congress and the BJP intensified their election campaign in north Bengal on Wednesday with Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and MP Abhishek Banerjee and actor Mithun Chakraborty holding rallies for their respective parties.

Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek held three public meetings — two in Cooch Behar and one in Alipurduar district where elections would be held on April 10.

“The BJP has failed to meet aspirations of people living in two districts even though it has been in power at the Centre for the past seven years. People have elected BJP MPs from the region but they have not done anything. Ahead of the elections, the BJP MPs are promising cash and trying to use money power in an unscrupulous manner,” the Trinamul MP said.

He also challenged BJP leaders to come up with a report card on what the central government had done for Bengal since 2014.

“While Mamata Banerjee is seeking support from people over the agenda of development and has elaborated what she has done for the state in the past 10 years, the BJP is trying to hoodwink voters with other issues. That is why they do not have anything to speak about, given their miserable performance at the Centre,” said Abhishek.

Mithun Chakraborty at a rally in Gairkata under Madarihat Assembly constituency in Alipurduar district on Wednesday Anirban Choudhury

In the Assembly elections this year, both the BJP and Trinamul are persistently focussing on north Bengal, a region with 54 seats which can be the game-changer for any party.

While the BJP, which had won seven of eight Lok Sabha seats of the region in 2019, intends to retain its lead in different Assembly segments, Trinamul is striving to revive its support base.

While addressing the public meetings, Abhishek also asked voters to “teach a lesson” to turncoats.

One of his targets was Mihir Goswami, the former Trinamul MLA of Cooch Behar South, who had defected to the BJP and is contesting as the BJP candidate of the Natabari (also in Cooch Behar) seat.

“Some people who have enjoyed all benefits while being in Trinamul have betrayed Mamata Banerjee and joined the BJP. These people should be taught a lesson in the elections,” he said.

He also obliquely referred to Nisith Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar, who had defected from Trinamul in 2019. This time, Pramanik is contesting from Dinhata Assembly seat.

“Those who have been removed from Trinamul have become the BJP’s candidates. When they could not find anybody, they fielded the MP. This person should be defeated,” Abhishek said.

Mithun, who has been pitted by the BJP as a star campaigner, also addressed voters of both Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts.

“Those who are contesting the elections should not make false promises. Many people dangle lollipops before the polls….. we should abstain from it and make such commitments to people which we can meet while seeking their support,” the veteran actor advised BJP candidates.

He was speaking at a public meeting in Gayerkata under the Madarihat Assembly constituency in Alipurduar district.

He also elaborated on some of the points mentioned in the BJP’s election manifesto, which include revision of daily wages for tea garden workers. In Alipurduar, results of three of the five Assembly constituencies depend on the support of the tea garden population.

In Cooch Behar, he attended a public meeting at Dinhata in support of Nisith Pramanik. At the meeting, he raised questions over chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s promise to deliver food grains, provided under the PDS, at doorsteps.

“We have heard that rations would be delivered at homes. But I have doubt whether the manpower that is required for this exercise is available here…. whether government employees or police or Trinamul supporters will distribute the ration is not clear. This is nothing but a lollipop,” Mithun said.

Later, he also attended a road show in Tufanganj. Hundreds had gathered at the road show to catch a glimpse of the actor.