Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, has demanded two state government officials be removed from the responsibilities of the September 5 Dhupguri bypoll.

The duo acted at the behest of the ruling Trinamul in the July 8 rural polls, he alleged.

Adhikari, who has been campaigning since Wednesday for Tapasi Roy, the BJP candidate for the bypoll necessitated by the recent death of the BJP MLA Bishnupada Roy, reached Jalpaiguri circuit house here on Thursday and met Kailash Sukhdeo Pagare, the general observer deputed by the election commission to oversee the election.

“I requested him to remove Koushik Chanda, a deputy magistrate and deputy collector (posted at the Jalpaiguri district collectorate), and Santanu Sarkar, the inspector-in-charge of Banarhat police station, from the responsibilities of the bypoll. Both of them have worked on behalf of Trinamul at the recent panchayat elections,” said Adhikari, after meeting the observer.

The BJP lawmaker demanded adequate security in the bypoll to prevent rigging.

Sources in the administration said around 25 companies of central paramilitary forces would be deployed in the booths. “Web cameras will be installed in all 260 booths of the Assembly constituency. The central forces will also guard the counting centre,” said an official.

Moumit Godara Basu, the district magistrate, when asked about Adhikari’s demand, dodged a direct reply.

“Whatever information was sought from us, we have provided to the election commission,” she said.

Adhikari, who later reached Dhupguri, was critical of the Mamata Banerjee government over healthcare infrastructure in the state.

“Dhupguri and its surrounding areas lack proper health facilities. People from here have to go to Jalpaiguri or Siliguri for treatment. Those who have money get themselves treated in private nursing homes while the poor face a crisis. The health insurance card provided by the state government is of no use, whether in private health clinics of the state or outside the state,” alleged the BJP MLA of Nandigram.

Adhikari also accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of not providing land to the Centre to set up health establishments.

“The central government has sought land from the state to set up a hospital of AIIMS standard in north Bengal. One such hospital is almost ready in Kalyani. But the chief minister will not provide land, whether it is in Raiganj or in Cooch Behar. She doesn’t want central projects to come up in the state,” Adhikari added.

Trinamul leaders campaigning in support of their candidate Nirmal Chandra Roy scoffed at these charges.

“Out of desperation (to retain the Dhupguri seat), saffron leaders are approaching the observers on one hand and making baseless allegations on the other. Residents of north Bengal are aware that Mamata Banerjee has set up a number of medical colleges, super-specialty hospitals and other health hubs in the region,” said Chandan Bhowmik, a senior Trinamul leader of Jalpaiguri district.