Cooch Behar

Concerns over political violence continue to weigh heavily on voters in the Dinhata and Sitalkuchi assembly constituencies of Cooch Behar, as the region heads towards polling day on April 23.

Known as politically sensitive areas, both constituencies have a history of clashes between workers of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with residents fearing that even minor tensions could escalate into serious violence.

In Dinhata, sitting MLA Udayan Guha has largely focused his campaign on development, avoiding aggressive rhetoric. Observers believe this may be due to a relatively favourable contest this time against BJP candidate Ajay Roy, rather than his long-time rival Nisith Pramanik.

Guha, a three-term legislator, had narrowly lost the 2021 election before regaining the seat in a bypoll with a massive margin after Pramanik vacated it to join the Union government.

However, the constituency has witnessed repeated instances of violence in recent years, including clashes during the 2023 panchayat elections and attacks on political leaders and party workers in 2025.

Adding to the tension is discontent over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with thousands of residents—particularly from former enclaves integrated into India after the 2015 land boundary agreement—reportedly facing uncertainty over their voter status.

Residents claim that many names have either been removed or kept under scrutiny, raising fears of disenfranchisement just weeks before polling. Several affected individuals have said they may approach the courts if the issue is not resolved.

Meanwhile, political developments in neighbouring Sitalkuchi also remain under close watch. The constituency gained national attention during the 2021 assembly elections after poll-day violence left five people dead, including four individuals killed in firing by security personnel.

In the last election, the BJP’s Baren Chandra Burman defeated TMC’s Partha Pratim Ray to win the seat.

This time, the TMC has fielded Harihar Das, whose candidature is seen as strategically significant due to his proximity to Ananta Maharaj, a prominent figure in the region.

On the other hand, the BJP has replaced its sitting MLA with Savitri Barman, introducing a new face into the contest.

READ MORE: Hindu brothers in Rajasthan donate land for Eidgah

With a history of violence, shifting political equations, and voter list controversies, both Dinhata and Sitalkuchi are set for closely watched elections, where concerns over safety and fairness remain at the forefront of voters’ minds.