Septuagenarian Asok Bhattacharya is a part of the new CPM committee of the Darjeeling district on Sunday as a “special invitee,” hinting that the veteran is still the main face of the party in the district ahead of civic polls.

On Sunday, after a two-day district meet of the party, CPM leader Jibesh Sarkar announced the new district committee.

“Under age norms (no leader aged 70 and above can be a member of the district committee), four senior members couldn’t find their place in the new district committee. However, we decided to include Asok Bhattacharya and Parimal Bhowmik as special invitees. Saman Pathak is the new district secretary,” Sarkar said.

The decision to include Bhattacharya, former state minister and mayor, is a clear indication that the party wants him at the frontlines, said political observers.

“It is evident that even today, the CPM leadership considers Asok Bhattacharya to be the most popular face of the party in Siliguri and Darjeeling district as a whole. Civic elections are ahead and also the three-tier panchayat polls of Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad are due. The decision clearly shows that they want the senior leader to be at the frontlines as the party goes ahead to contest these polls,” said an observer.

Sarkar said the district committee has 40 members and two special invitees. This includes 13 new faces.

“The average age of the new district committee members is 48 years. A number of youths have been included,” he said.