Dhupguri Assembly Election 2024

Over the course of 16 Assembly elections, Dhupguri has seen a shifting political narrative. It was absent from the electoral rolls in 1957 and 1962, only to be revived in 1967. The CPI(M) held sway for decades, winning eight times, including an uninterrupted run from 1977 to 2011. The Congress managed three victories, while the Samyukta Socialist Party won once. The Trinamool Congress and the BJP have each won twice and once, respectively, but their recent performances suggest a fierce tug-of-war for dominance.

The Trinamool Congress broke the CPI(M)’s long-standing grip in 2016 when Mitali Roy defeated sitting MLA Mamata Roy by 19,264 votes. In 2021, the BJP made its mark with Bishnu Pada Ray edging past Mitali Roy by 4,355 votes. Following Ray’s untimely demise, the 2023 by-election saw Trinamool’s Nirmal Chandra Roy narrowly defeat BJP’s Tapasi Roy by 4,309 votes. The Lok Sabha elections mirrored this contest, with the BJP leading in the Dhupguri segment by 6,329 votes in 2024, witnessing a sharp dip from its 17,766-vote lead in 2019. CPI(M), once the dominant force, has consistently finished third in recent contests, raising questions about its future relevance in the constituency.

Dhupguri had 263,118 registered voters in 2021, rising slightly to 269,522 in 2024. The electorate stood at 251,197 in 2019 and 327,427 in 2016. Scheduled Castes form the backbone of the constituency, comprising 55.30 per cent of voters, while Scheduled Tribes account for 8.64 per cent. Muslim voters make up around 16 per cent. Voter turnout has remained robust, with 83.04 per cent in 2024, 87.27 per cent in 2021, 86.61 per cent in 2019 and 88 per cent in 2016.

Historically, Dhupguri was a modest village until the Partition of India, which triggered a wave of refugees from East Pakistan. This influx transformed the town into a bustling centre of commerce by the 1970s. The establishment of Dhupguri Municipality in 2002 formalised its urban status, though its character remains largely agrarian.

Geographically, Dhupguri lies in the fertile alluvial plains of the Dooars region, at the foothills of the Bhutanese Himalayas. The Jaldhaka River flows to its west, while smaller rivers like the Daina, Gilandi, Duduya, Kumlai, Jhumur and Bamni crisscross the landscape, enriching the soil but also making the area prone to seasonal flooding. The terrain is mostly flat, with low hills visible towards the north.

The local economy is driven by agriculture and tea cultivation. Dhupguri is surrounded by several tea gardens, and the region contributes significantly to the Dooars’ annual tea output. Paddy, jute and vegetables are the main crops. Industrial activity is minimal, limited to agro-processing units and small-scale enterprises. Employment opportunities are largely informal, with many residents migrating to Siliguri, Kolkata or even southern states for work.

Infrastructure in Dhupguri has improved over the years. The town is connected by rail and road, with the New Jalpaiguri–Cooch Behar railway line passing through. State highways link Dhupguri to neighbouring districts, and the presence of educational institutions and healthcare centres has grown, though specialised services still require travel to larger cities.

Dhupguri is approximately 45 km from Jalpaiguri, the district headquarters, and about 560 km from Kolkata, the state capital. Siliguri lies 90 km to the west, while Cooch Behar is around 70 km to the east. The Bhutan border is less than 40 km away, with towns like Phuentsholing accessible via Binnaguri and Jaigaon. Banarhat is 15 km away, Mainaguri is 25 km away, and Gairkata is just 10 km from Dhupguri.

As the 2026 Assembly elections approach, Dhupguri remains a constituency in transition. The narrow margins of recent victories suggest that voters are still weighing their options between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP. A revival of the CPI(M) could further complicate the equation, making the contest unpredictable and fiercely competitive. In a seat where every vote seems to count, Dhupguri is poised to be one of the most closely watched battlegrounds in North Bengal.

(Ajay Jha)