Two BJP dissidents withdrew their nominations for the Dhupguri Assembly bypoll in Jalpaiguri district on Monday, the last day to do so.

The two Independent candidates’ pullout from the fray has come as a relief for the BJP which faced a number of unpleasant situations ahead of the byelection on September 5.

On one hand, a BJP leader in Dhupguri was accused of being involved in the gruesome murder of his wife.

On the other hand, acute infighting surfaced within the party. A few days ago, Bapi Goswami, the district BJP president, and another leader Palen Ghosh allegedly thrashed and kicked a former officer-bearer of the party in public.

Alok Chakraborty was attacked when he had gone to greet Tapasi Roy, the party’s candidate, with a bouquet. Roy and BJP leaders and workers were marching to the Jalpaiguri collectorate to file her nominations.

Chakraborty filed a complaint with the police and informed the state BJP leadership about the assault.

A senior functionary of the saffron camp said: “Those were undesirable incidents, especially when the elections are ahead. The Trinamul Congress has immediately picked up both the cases (the murder and the assault).”

“However, we got some relief today (Monday) as both disgruntled candidates, who had filed nominations as Independents, withdrew their papers. Their presence in the election would have surely divided our vote bank as they are quite popular in their areas,” he added.

Taramani Roy, a veteran woman BJP leader of Dhupguri, had filed the nomination, alleging that Goswami, the district president, had ignored her.

“My demand was that the district leadership give due recognition to the party’s other leaders and workers. The party has accepted it and so, I have withdrawn my nomination,” she said.

Sadananda Biswas, another dissident BJP leader who had submitted the nomination as an Independent, also withdrew the papers on Monday.

“We could control the damage to some extent. Senior party leaders should go to villages and other localities to find out whether our workers and supporters have grievances. They should immediately address them,” a BJP leader said.

The seat reserved for the Scheduled Caste fell vacant following the death of BJP MLA Bishnupada Roy in Calcutta last month.

In 2021, Bishnupada had won the seat by a margin of 4,355 votes, defeating the Trinamul candidate.

After the completion of the withdrawal process, seven candidates are in the fray. A CPM nominee backed by the Congress is also in the fray. Four others, who are either Independents or represent regional parties, are contesting the bypoll.

Campaign

Union minister of state Santanu Thakur reached Dhupguri on Monday. Thakur’s visit, observers said, is a part of the BJP’s strategy to try and consolidate the votes of the Matua community in the Assembly seat.

Thakur took part in a procession organised by the community in Dhupguri town and later attended a conference where Matuas were present.

Sensitive booths

Around 14 per cent of booths in the Dhupguri Assembly seat have been identified as sensitive booths, sources in the Jalpaiguri district administration said on Monday.

Altogether, the constituency has 260 booths, 37 have been marked as sensitive.

“The identification has been done in an initial manner. In due course, that is, till September 5 when the byelection would be held, some more booths can be marked in the same category,” said a source.

For the bypoll, 15 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed across the constituency, along with state police. “Fourteen companies have already reached the district. Another company will arrive by tonight,” said a senior police officer.