Trinamul has appointed leaders from rural areas as observers in each of the 20 wards of Alipurduar municipality to stem factionalism ahead of the civic polls, while the CPM, inspired by its relative success in the Calcutta Municipal Corporation elections have decided to field a majority of red volunteers.

Alipurduar civic election is likely on February 27.

A Trinamul source said to “avoid factionalism and maintain transparency", the party appointed an observer each in all its 20 wards. All observers, from rural areas, have been asked to form three booths in each ward. Each booth will be manned by a 31-member executive committee, which means that Trinamul is trying to rope in 93 active workers to work for the party in each ward.

Sources said Trinamul came up with the new strategy as past election results have been dismal for Bengal's ruling party here despite a slew of projects, starting with creating Alipurduar district in 2014. Earlier, Alipurduar was a part of Jalpaiguri district.

In the last municipality election in Alipurduar in 2013, Trinamul won eight seats, followed by Congress with six, Left with five and the BJP with one. Then, Alipurduar was still a part of Jalpaiguri.

When the term ended in 2018, no election was held but an administrator appointed to run the civic body.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Trinamul lost in all 20 wards. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Trinamul lost in 18 wards and all five seats of the district.

The CPM has decided to give priority to red volunteers as candidates in Alipurduar.

Red volunteers worked extensively during the Covid-19 pandemic, from providing food to patient’s families to helping patients get medial aid. The party wants to field at least 15 red volunteers in Alipurduar.

Kishore Das secretary, Alipurduar CPM district committee, said: “In the CMC election, the CPM got 12 per cent votes only because red volunteers got priority. We want to repeat it in Alipurduar.”