Arch rivals the Left and Trinamool Congress can fight as long as they want, but a local outfit fighting for a separate state for Rajbanshi community may steal the elections from under their nose in Cooch Behar.
Analysts opine that both the Forward Bloc and the Trinamool Congress may not do well from here if the supporters of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) come out to vote in large numbers on April 30.
Traditionally, GCDP supporters vote for anti-Left parties and their voting for GCDP may pose a challenge to the Trinamool Congress candidate as well.
GCDP has been demanding a separate state in Coochbehar district and other adjoining areas populated by people belonging to the Rajbanshi community.
The Trinamool has fielded Arghya Roy Pradhan from the seat while Nripendra Nath Roy has enter the fray from the Forward Bloc. The GCDP candidate, who may be spoilsport is Bangshi Badan Barman.
In the last general election, FB candidate Hiten Barman who joined TC this year after being denied a ticket, polled 4,90,982 votes accounting for 51.54% while TC candidate with 2,64,413 votes was in the second spot.