Darj to get new political party on 24 April

SNS, 21 April 2022 : Former All India Gorkha League (Bharati Tamang camp) leader SP Sharma, along with some others, is all set to announce a new  political outfit on 24 April.

However, the upcoming party, even before its formation, has already been active since early this month with an abbreviated form of their name "BGSP" circulating in the Hills. Mr Sharma has said that they will announce the full form of the party once they float it officially. The "BGSP" has also put up wall posters in Darjeeling, raising different demands that it said should be met before elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration are held.

Speaking in a press conference here today, Mr Sharma said, "Our main issue has always been the demand for statehood, but it seems at present that those demanding it and those giving it both do not seem to know what it is exactly. In this type of a situation, we want to make clear that our demand is statehood and we will take it forward." 

"The present political situation is such that political parties cannot even raise their voices, demanding that roads be repaired, but instead they themselves go and repair it.

They are doing this as they are afraid to take up these issues.

What we should get from the administration we are getting from the political parties, which should not be the case, and we want to try and rectify such things through our new party," he added.

Mr Sharma also said that the new political party would not align with the Centre or the state government, "which is the scene now."

"We will stand on our own feet. It should not be for the state or central government, but it should be by the people, for the people and of the people," he added.

The BGSP is being formed by leaders like Mr Sharma, along with others who recently resigned from the AIGL (Bharati camp), with that faction now being dissolved. There are youths from different parts that are also expected to be part of the political outfit.

The AIGL (Bharati camp) was dissolved on 30 March this year, with its party president Bharati Tamang also announcing her retirement from politics. The AIGL, however remains, with Pratap Khati leading the other faction.