As the battle for West Bengal nears, leaders from the ruling Trinamool Congress led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the opposition BJP are trying hard to make deep roots in some key constituencies, Purulia being one of them. The Maoist-affected constituency, which has been neglected for years and is considered an economically backward seat, was held by ex-Congressman Sudip Kumar Mukherjee – who now has joined the BJP – and this has become a flashpoint between the defending chief minister and the challenger BJP.  The ruling party has accused the saffron party of misleading the people of the state.

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To give the much-needed industrial push to the region, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced an industrial park in Raghunathpur with projected investments of Rs 62,000 crore. The BJP has dismissed the promise as “false”, and has said the BJP, unlike the TMC leader, will live up to its promise of development in the region.

The BJP is going all guns blazing to hold on to the position it secured in eight of the nine assembly segments in Purulia district in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Trinamool leadership, however, is desperate to gain the district to re-establish its unchallenged authority over the state.

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What do the people of Purulia need?

Development through industrialisation is the only way for a better life, says Sambhu Majhi of Kashipur. Lack of employment, water for farming, lack of education facilities and lack of infrastructure has led to massive migration of people to other states. Known as “lal matir desh” (land of red soil), Purulia has in the recent years seen a rise in tourism business with people from Kolkata and other places choosing its various destinations as weekend getaways. This has facilitated some jobs in the district, says Paresh Mahata, a grocery shop owner in the district town. Not enough to hold back our people here, he adds.

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The BJP that marked its footprint in this westernmost district of the state bordering Jharkhand during the 2018 panchayat elections, had snatched a good number of seats from then invincible Mamata Banerjee in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP is in no mood to let its guard down and is adamant on grabbing the seat, which has become a sore point for the ruling party. The Congress, which is more on the sidelines this year, too will try to hold on to its seat.