Siliguri, July 23: Trinamul leaders in Jalpaiguri and South Dinajpur districts are gearing up to secure majority in the municipalities of Dhupguri and Buniadpur where elections would be held on August 13.

Both the civic bodies, party insiders said, are significant for them.

"Dhupguri is the first municipality in north Bengal that we had won back in 2012. Later, we could win other civic bodies of the region, while some more came under our control as elected councillors of other parties joined Trinamul. On the other hand, elections would be held for the first time in Buniadpur municipality that was formed in 2015. So, it is important for us to ensure the win in both the civic bodies."

Back in 2012, when elections were held in the 16-ward Dhupguri municipality, Trinamul secured 11 seats and managed to topple the Left Front, which ended with four seats. The BJP had secured one seat in the elections.

Later, two Left Front councillors joined Trinamul. It increased the party's tally to 13.

In Buniadpur, elections would be held in 14 wards. Back in 2014, chief minister Mamata Banerjee had announced creation of the municipality and accordingly, steps were taken to form the civic body.

However, since 2014, when it was formed, the SDO of Gangarampur was made the administrator.

"Each resident of Buniadpur is eager to see an elected board take charge of the civic body. We are putting all efforts to secure our win," a Trinamul leader based in Balurghat said.

In north Bengal, there are 24 civic bodies (including Buniadpur).

Trinamul is in power in 19 of these municipalities, including Dhupguri.

The other five municipalities include three in the hills, the Siliguri Municipal Corporation and Buniadpur.

While the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is in power at the hill civic bodies, the SMC is the sole civic body in north Bengal where the Left is in power.

"We have the record of winning all the municipalities of north Bengal in the plains, except the SMC and Mirik. We want to maintain this record by retaining Dhupguri and winning in Buniadpur. This would increase our tally to 20," state tourism minister Gautam Deb, a senior Trinamul leader from north Bengal, said.

Party sources said there was another reason for giving importance to Buniadpur.

"In the 2016 Assembly polls, the performance of our party was worst in South Dinajpur district. This is because the party was affected by inner rivalry and all prominent leaders lost in the polls.

In the 2011 elections, Trinamul had won five of six Assembly seats in the district but in 2016, it could win only two seats. Three other seats went to Left and one to Congress.

After the Assembly polls last year, this is the first election of any kind that would be held in the district.

"We have to ensure our win to prove before people and our state leadership that the party still enjoys the support base. It was due to the inner differences of some leaders that we performed badly at the Assembly polls," the source said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY OUR JALPAIGURI CORRESPONDENT AND KOUSIK SEN IN RAIGANJ