Apparently buoyed by the success of Trinamool Congress-led movement post Tinsukia mass killings where five Bengali-speaking labourers were gunned down at Dhola in Assam and encouraged by the response Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was getting from the Assam-based Bengali population in her fight against “intentionally flawed drafting” of National Register of Citizens, the TMC has decided to spread its political tentacles in the BJP-ruled State.

This, by contesting the panchayat elections scheduled to be held there in the month of December. Two-phased rural elections will be held in Assam on December 5 and 9. The TMC will put up its candidates in the rural elections, Bengal Minister and senior Trinamool leader in charge of Assam Firhad Hakim is known to have told the party leaders in that State and asked them to begin preparations.

“The party wants to tap the Bengali voters tormented by a communal and linguistically biased BJP Government,” a TMC leader quoting Hakim said adding his party would also target the Hindi-speaking and other minorities of that State whose names had been struck off the “intentionally flawed NRC.”

The party would begin with fielding candidates in Bengali-dominated areas. “We may field our candidates from at least 9-10 districts where Bengalis are in good numbers and are feeling threatened by the recent developments,” TMC sources said.

“They (read the BJP) are trying to capture Bengal but now it is time for them to protect their own place in Assam,” insiders said adding the party would preferably field candidates whose names have been struck out of the NRC. “This will also give them legitimacy in their claims of citizenship,” TMC sources said.

On whether Mamata Banerjee would herself go to Assam to campaign in the elections, sources would not reveal the cards. “It is for our supreme leader to decide whether she will go campaigning in Assam. Contesting polls in that State is her decision and it seems she will take the correct decision on other issues as and when the situation comes.”

The TMC had strongly taken up the twin issues of NRC and the Tinsukia killings evoking massive response and apparently catapulting Banerjee as the champion of Bengali cause in Assam. The massive success of opposition-sponsored bandh seems also to have buoyed the Trinamool leadership considering the fact that those who had responded were largely anti-BJP.

Since the main opposition party Congress had kept its movement concealed fearing loss of Assamese votes the TMC seems to have found an opportunity to exploit the situation in districts like Karimganj, Silchar, Barak etc. sources said.