The demand to create a new subdivisional headquarters in Dhupguri has intensified ahead of the September 5 bypoll.

Dhupguri Assembly seat has been vacant since last month following the death of its BJP MLA Bishnupada Roy.

The demand, raised by a number of social organisations based in and around Dhupguri, has the support of residents.

Political parties have also lent support to it. Bypoll candidates are also underscoring the issue during their respective campaigns.

“The decision has to be taken by the state government. Let me make it clear that if I win this seat, I will raise the issue in appropriate quarters to confirm that the new Dhupguri subdivision is created in Jalpaiguri district,” said Nirmal Chandra Roy, the Trinamul candidate.

Roy, during his campaign, has also mentioned that chief minister Mamata Banerjee has created the new Banarhat block by bifurcating Dhupguri block for better governance.

As of now, there are two subdivisions in Jalpaiguri district, Sadar and Malbazar. Over the years, residents of Dhupguri town and rural areas of the block and those hailing from neighbouring Banarhat block have time and again demanded Dhupguri be a new subdivision.

“Dhupguri is 40km away from district headquarters. On different errands, people had to travel to Jalpaiguri every day as we live in a block now. A new subdivisional headquarters would largely ease the inconvenience that people had to face here. It would expedite development in and around Dhupguri,” said Mintu Choudhury, a senior resident of Dhupguri town.

Ishwar Chandra Roy and Tapasi Roy, the CPM and BJP candidates, have also echoed their Trinamul rival on the Dhupguri subdivision issue.

While the CPM candidate said that their party had raised the demand much earlier, Tapasi, who has been fielded by the saffron camp, said that Dhupguri is located in the centre of an important agricultural area of the district, which is why it needed a special status.

“That is why Dhupguri needs to be upgraded to a subdivision. If I win in the elections, it will be the first issue which I will raise in the Assembly,” Tapasi said.

Those demanding the new subdivision want the Dhupguri and Banarhat blocks and some adjoining areas of the Mainaguri block to be included in it.

Political observers mentioned that ahead of the bypoll, the demand has emerged as an important issue.

“In earlier elections, while some parties had played the development card here to garner support while others resorted to identity politics to polarise voters. Interestingly, ahead of the byelection this time, it is the demand for the subdivision that has gained importance during the campaign and political rivals seem to be on the same page,” said an observer.