Balurghat residents all agog over CM's visit

BALURGHAT: Balurghat is abuzz as the residents are excited to welcome Chief Minister and Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee here on Friday. Banerjee is scheduled to address a public rally at town club ground, for the election campaign of party candidate Arpita Ghosh.

The poll for the Balurghat seat is slated on April 23, the third of the seven phase elections declared by the Election Commission of India.

"It is my dream to see the Trinamool supremo at Balurghat. She has been working relentlessly for the development of Bengal since 2011. I will definitely reach the ground at least one hour before the rally starts so that I can see her from front. I know there will be a huge crowd as she is a real crowd-puller," said Dilip Kumar Saha, an elderly Balurghat resident. With the elderly citizens excited to hear the speech of Banerjee, the youths are not far behind either.

"She is my ideal. It will be my first time seeing her and hearing her speech. What strikes me the most is her indomitable spirit and energy. She emerged from the ground level to begin her political career. She always fights for Bengal with Modi and his saffron brigade in case of any negligence and deprivation of the state. She is the prime face of Opposition at the Centre and therefore, I have hardly missed any opportunity to tune in whenever she speaks on TV," said Sourav Nandi, a college-goer.

The homemakers and working women are impatient to catch a glimpse of the Chief Minister as well.

"Tomorrow is a holiday otherwise it would have been tough for me to manage a leave from school as I am engaged and working in a state-run higher secondary school located just on the outskirts of Balurghat. I will be there at her rally with my family," said Taniya Basak, a high school teacher.

District party president Biplab Mitra said Banerjee is expected to reach Balurghat at around 12 noon in helicopter. "After completing the proposed rally in Balurghat, she will reach Gangarampur to address another rally. We are expecting at least one lakh people each in the two rallies. It will be historic," Mitra said.

The senior leaders have already inspected Balurghat ground to check the preparations. District administration and police are alert to avoid any untoward situation. Sufficient policemen will be deployed to manage the crowd.