State tourism minister Gautam Deb on Sunday said he would meet chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta on January 3 for her approval of a new civic body for Dabgram-Fulbari area in Jalpaiguri district.

Deb is the MLA from Dabgram-Fulbari Assembly seat.

“I will meet the chief minister at Calcutta on January 3 and appeal to her for administrative approval for a new civic body for Dabgram-Fulbari. I believe she will never refuse my sincere request,” said Deb. “Rapid urbanisation is taking place...there are a number of private institutions and hospitals here…on December 15, our chief minister declared Mainaguri (Jalpaiguri) would soon get a civic body and we are hopeful of a positive decision for our area too.”

Deb said this at a Trinamul protest event against the recent farm laws.

Rural areas of Dabgram-Fulbari are spread over Rajganj block of Jalpaiguri district but 14 wards from this constituency come under Siliguri Municipal Corporation.

Deb said a slew of development projects and steady urbanisation led to clamour for a new municipality.

Uttarkanya, the state’s branch secretariat, and Bengal Safari Park come under this Assembly seat. The area’s infrastructure has improved with two fire stations and an electronic crematorium. Construction of a 100-bed ESI hospital is on.

Many observers believe Deb is looking for a poll edge. Dabgram-Fulbari comes under Jalpaiguri Lok Sabha seat, where during the 2019 parliamentary election, BJP had a lead of 80,000 votes. “Deb wants something new before the 2021 state polls,” said an observer.

Asok gets report card

Ranjan Sarkar, Trinamul Darjeeling district committee chief (plains), on Sunday visited the home of CPM’s Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya in ward 20 of the SMC to hand over the state government’s 10-year report card. Sarkar was handing out report cards as part of Duare Sarkar outreach. The MLA’s wife Ratna received the card from Sarkar. Bhattacharya called it a “gimmick”.