Siliguri, 15th January: Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has stepped up her focus on North Bengal, intensifying political engagement and development initiatives. As part of this initiative, the Chief Minister is set to lay the foundation stone of the Mahakal Temple at Matigara and inaugurate the newly constructed building of the Calcutta High Court’s Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri, positioning North Bengal as a key focus area.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s three-day North Bengal tour will begin on January 16. She will leave Kolkata in the afternoon and is scheduled to arrive at Bagdogra Airport around 3 pm. From there, she will travel by road to Matigara, where she will lay the foundation stone of the Mahakal Temple on government land located opposite City Centre and address a public meeting. From the same platform, she is also expected to outline the party’s strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections to party workers.
It is noteworthy that the Trinamool Congress did not perform as expected in North Bengal in previous elections. Taking this into account, the Chief Minister has adopted a strategy of turning weaknesses into strengths and has taken direct control of the region’s political and organisational affairs. As a result, there has been a marked increase in her visits to North Bengal.
In 2025, Mamata Banerjee visited North Bengal three times. This is her first visit to the region in the new year, and her fourth visit over the past two months. Political observers see this as a clear indication that the Trinamool Congress is giving special importance to North Bengal ahead of the Assembly polls.
As part of her tour programme, the Chief Minister will inaugurate the newly constructed building of the Calcutta High Court’s Circuit Bench in Jalpaiguri on January 17. On January 18, she is scheduled to depart for Kolkata from Bagdogra Airport in the afternoon.
During the visit, Mamata Banerjee will also meet local leaders and party workers to hold detailed discussions on organisational preparedness and election planning. Political circles believe that the Trinamool Congress has adopted an “all-out battle” approach in North Bengal, with the groundwork for the Assembly elections being laid from the region itself.
During a previous visit, the Chief Minister had stated that her government would strengthen North Bengal on three fronts, religion, sports, and development. Observers note that her current programme reflects this approach, with development projects and symbolic initiatives taking centre stage.
Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb said the Chief Minister brings a developmental initiative for North Bengal on every visit. He added that the construction of the Mahakal Temple at Matigara is expected to boost tourism, while the establishment of the High Court Circuit Bench fulfils a long-standing demand of the people of North Bengal.
With the Chief Minister’s active touring schedule and a series of development projects ahead of the Assembly elections, political activity in North Bengal has intensified. The impact of the Mahakal Temple foundation stone and Mission North Bengal on the Trinamool Congress’s electoral prospects will ultimately be reflected in the election results.