Chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that her government would create a new subdivision in Jalpaiguri district with headquarters in Dhupguri.

Trinamul won the Dhupguri bypoll three days ago.

“We will make a new subdivision in Dhupguri. I am going on a trip abroad and once I return, all necessary formalities will be carried out,” said Mamata in Nabanna.

Her announcement comes within nine days of Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul’s national general secretary, promising Dhupguri’s residents of the subdivision, a longstanding demand.

“Let me confirm that by December 31 this year, Dhupguri will be a new subdivision,” Abhishek said on September 2, before the September 5 bypoll.

Trinamul, riding on a number of factors, including the promise, wrested the seat from the BJP in the bypoll whose results were declared — with six other bypolls in the country — last Friday.

Immediately after the bypoll result came out, Mamata posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the new subdivision.

“I am delighted to share that Dhupguri will officially attain sub-division status by the end of this year as per our promise. This milestone will usher in improved local governance and open up new avenues for development in the region. Our dedication remains steadfast in shaping a prosperous future for Dhupguri!” she wrote on the microblogging site.

Mamata’s announcement also made her party leaders underscore that Trinamul delivers on its promises, unlike the BJP.

“When we promise, we DELIVER! As assured by Nat’l GS Shri @abhishekaitc before the by-elections, Dhupguri will soon become a sub-division. Today, Hon’ble CM Smt @MamataOfficial announced the same via a press conference...,” Trinamul posted on X on Monday.

Newly elected Trinamul Dhupguri MLA Nirmal Chandra Roy sounded elated as he said on Monday: “It has been proven that whatever we promise, we deliver.”

He also asked the people of the area to be patient, saying the administrative infrastructure would take some time to be set up.

In north Bengal, the BJP had made major inroads electorally in recent years by largely playing the polarisation card.

The BJPwon seven of eight Lok Sabha seats in the region in the 2019 elections and 30 of 54 Assembly seats in 2021.

Trinamul’s Dhupguri win in this bypoll comes as a toehold for the party before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said Dhupguri block, Dhupguri municipal area, and parts of Banarhat block will be included under the new subdivision.

“Around eight to 10 lakh people live in the two blocks. There are seven forest villages, 26 tea estates and a municipality in the area,” said a source.

“Eight to 10 lakh people reside in these two blocks. There are seven forest villages, 26 tea estates, and one municipality in the area,” said a source.

As of now, Jalpaiguri has two subdivisions, Sadar and Malbazar.

Trinamul supporters and residents celebrated Mamata's Dhupguri announcement by bursting crackers and exchanging sweets.

“We thank the chief minister and Abhishek Banerjee for their initiatives. It will largely help residents of Dhupguri and Banarhat blocks,” said Aniruddha Dasgupta, the joint secretary of Dhupguri Nagarik Mancha, an apolitical body that has been raising the demand for a subdivision for years now.

Additional reporting by our Jalpaiguri correspondent