New Delhi (Agency): The party, established by Thapa, a former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader, in 2021, has seen rapid growth, demonstrated by their victory in the GTA elections last year. Further asserting its authority, the party wrestled control of Darjeeling municipality from Hamro Party.
In a significant political shift in West Bengal’s Northern Hills, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has risen to prominence, triumphing in the recent rural elections in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. The BGPM’s victory asserts its newfound status as the region’s predominant political force.
The panchayat elections, the first in the region in 23 years, were held under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous council currently under BGPM’s control. The polls operated on a two-tier system, contrasting the three-tier method implemented throughout the rest of the state.
BGPM, under the leadership of GTA chief executive Anit Thapa, secured a convincing victory, winning 349 of the 598 seats in 70 gram panchayats in Darjeeling district, as per the recent results shared by the district administration. The BJP-led eight-party United Gorkha Alliance, which posed a formidable challenge to the BGPM, only managed to claim 59 seats, while independent candidates won 185 and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) a mere five.
Moreover, BGPM emerged successful in 96 out of 156 panchayat samiti seats in Darjeeling district, leaving BJP with only 19 victories and independents with 41. The party’s ascendancy extended to neighboring Kalimpong, where it won 168 of the 281 seats in 42 gram panchayats.
The party, established by Thapa, a former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader, in 2021, has seen rapid growth, demonstrated by their victory in the GTA elections last year. Further asserting its authority, the party wrestled control of Darjeeling municipality from Hamro Party.
Despite its close ties with the ruling TMC, BGPM faced formidable opposition from the United Gorkha Alliance, which consisted of eight parties including Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Hamro Party, and Gorkha National Liberation Front.
Thapa, while celebrating the party’s resounding victory, stated, “This is people’s victory. They have given us a chance to work for them. We will bring development to the grassroots level.”
Meanwhile, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, the face of the Opposition in these elections, affirmed, “For the BJP and our alliance, this election was about restoring democracy in the hills, and I believe our fundamental objective has been achieved.”
This major political shift illustrates the people’s desire for a fresh perspective and an invigorated commitment to local development. BGPM’s ascendancy promises a new chapter in the politics of the region, bearing the hopes and aspirations of the people it represents.
