None of the major political parties raised the issue during their campaigns and candidates, when questioned, shifted responsibility onto one another.

The auction centre, which resumed operations in May last year after nearly a decade, collapsed within months after conducting just four auctions. Since then, there has been no clear signal from the Tea Board of India regarding its revival. Even officials of the Tea Auction Centre Management Committee admitted they have received no direction, leaving stakeholders uncertain and disheartened.

Industry sources cite persistent billing delays as a key reason behind the shutdown. Large buyers who participated in auctions reportedly did not receive invoices on time despite making online payments. Without proper documentation, tea consignments could not be lifted from warehouses, prompting buyers to gradually withdraw. Consequently, tea supply to the centre dried up.

Between June and the fourth week of July last year, four auctions were conducted, with the last held on July 21. A total of 16,279 kg of tea was sold, fetching prices between Rs 116.32 and Rs 193 per kg. However, no tea arrived for the scheduled auctions on July 28 and August 4, forcing operations to halt.

Despite repeated appeals from the North Bengal Tea Auction Centre to streamline billing, the Tea Board has not responded. Committee Secretary Pratap Raut said there is no clarity on when a resolution may come. The centre, first established in 2008 during the Left Front regime and shut in 2014 due to low supply, was revived last year after sustained efforts. While Jalpaiguri MP Jayant Roy played a key role in its reopening, the issue found no mention even during high-profile campaign visits.

BJP candidate Anantadeb Adhikari said the party would address the matter after the elections, while CPI(M)'s Debraj Barman blamed the ruling parties for failing to sustain it. Trinamool's Krishna Das promised to prioritise reopening if elected.