The state Trinamul leadership put Biplab Mitra, a veteran party leader of South Dinajpur, as chair of the district committee ahead of polls.

Mitra replaces another veteran Shankar Chakraborty, who has been inducted in the state committee as a vice-president, said sources.

Mitra, Trinamul district party chief since 1998, was removed from the post in 2019 when BJP won the Balurghat Lok Sabha seat. He briefly joined the BJP then but returned to Trinamul in 2020.

A party insider said Mitra’s strong organisational base would be of great help.

“I will put in all efforts...Many (members) are inactive or have walked out of the party. My first task is to bring them in, give them new responsibilities and work together to secure Trinamul’s win in all six Assembly seats of the district,” said Mitra.