The Trinamul Congress (TMC) leadership in Cooch Behar has begun early mobilisation ahead of the Assembly elections, focusing on women beneficiaries of the state government’s Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.
District TMC president Abhijit De Bhowmik highlighted the financial assistance provided under the scheme, stressing its role in improving the socio-economic condition of women in rural households and contributing to changes in the rural economy. He urged beneficiaries to support Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, under whose leadership the scheme was introduced.
Bhowmik further appealed to voters not to focus on individual candidates or constituencies, asserting that all TMC candidates represent Mamata Banerjee’s leadership and her welfare initiatives. He also pointed out that many women from economically weaker sections are now using the financial support independently ~ for household needs as well as for the education of their children ~ reducing financial dependence on male family members.
Meanwhile, North Bengal development minister Udayan Guha took a critical stance, referring to voting patterns in the region. Citing past election outcomes, he expressed dissatisfaction that some beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme voted against the TMC.
“Earlier, women used to walk to polling stations. Now, with improved financial capacity, they are able to hire e-rickshaws to reach polling booths. However, despite benefiting from the scheme, many have voted against the TMC,” Guha said.
He criticised what he described as a “dual approach” among certain voters who avail benefits from the state government but support opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Significantly, sources within the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged that the TMC is aggressively seeking votes by highlighting government welfare schemes, and claimed that women beneficiaries of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme are being pressurised at the booth level based on past voting patterns and suspected political preferences.
The developments indicate that welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar are likely to play a central role in the political narrative in North Bengal as parties intensify their outreach ahead of the elections.