Bengal tourism minister Gautam Deb, who is contesting from Dabgram-Fulbari of Jalpaiguri, has introduced “Samadhan” (solution), a round-the-clock helpline-cum-grievance redressal mechanism for voters of his constituency.

The helpline (96474-96475) — that seems to be launched on the lines of “Didi Ke Bolo” (a similar state-wide campaign launched by chief minister Mamata Banerjee) — became operational on Saturday and will be managed 24 hours by a team of Trinamul workers.

“For the past couple of months, I have been reaching out to people of my constituency and have covered almost 80 per cent of the areas. During my campaign, I felt the need to launch such a facility that can enable any resident of the constituency to reach me for any help at any time. That is why the system has been introduced,” said Deb, who is considered to be the tallest Trinamul leader in north Bengal.

The minister, while speaking on the facility, which has been taken up by a political leader of north Bengal for the first time, said he intended to make it a permanent service.

“Even after the elections are over, I will continue to run the service so that people can be provided with necessary help and their grievances can be redressed,” he added.

According to political observers, the new mechanism that has been evolved by the minister seems to be the part of a strategy to open up a new window other than the traditional campaign, which can help him connect to his voters.

They said Deb had won from the Dabgram-Fulbari seat in 2011 and 2016. In 2016, he could win by a margin of over 26,000 votes but in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP could secure a lead of around 86,000 votes in his Assembly segment.

“It is obvious that Gautam Deb and his party will have to toil hard to ensure that he wins in the seat for the third time. That is why they are exploring all possible options to reach out to people,” said an observer.

The Dabgram-Fulbari seat that comprises 14 wards of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and four adjoining panchayats falls in Jalpaiguri district.

So, for any official and legal works, residents living in these areas have to travel to Jalpaiguri town, that is 45km away. As there had been rapid urbanisation in the rural areas which are next to the wards, there is also a demand for a separate civic body.

The tourism minister, who is well aware of this issue, is thus underscoring some of the infrastructure developments which the Trinamul government has carried out in the past 10 years, which include two fire stations and a registry office, the Uttarkanya and the Bengal Safari Park.

Simultaneously, he is speaking out the new plans he has for his constituency.

“We will approach the state government to declare the entire Dabgram-Fulbari area as a new civic area. We would work to ensure that a separate administrative set-up is opened for the convenience of the residents, along with a metropolitan court so that people do not need to travel to Jalpaiguri,” added Deb.