BGPM show of strength in Darj; Thapa leads future-building' rally

SNS, DARJEELING, 24 JUNE 2022: As campaigning for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections ended today the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) organised a 'Bhavishya Nirman Yatra' (journey to build the future) from Ghoom to Darjeeling town where party supporters in large numbers walked the entire 8-km stretch in the rainfall.

In the public meeting at the Darjeeling motor stand held after the rally, BGPM president Anit Thapa made strong statements against Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards, who is being seen as the main contender against the BGPM in the elections.

"There are no new faces competing in the elections. I left the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and started my journey, while Ajoy bhai started his journey onwards after leaving the GNLF. I have lost four times now, while he has won four times in elections and he should show what he has done during this time," said Mr Thapa.

According to Mr Thapa, Mr Edwards had won four times as Darjeeling MP Raju Bista had won the Lok Sabha elections after Mr Edwards extended his support to him, along with Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba winning twice with Mr Edwards supporting him too. The fourth time that Mr Edwards had won was give during the recently concluded Municipality elections, Mr Thapa said.

"I have been scolded from the year 2017 for different reasons and issues like water not reaching people's homes, landslides, unemployed youths in houses, but I feel people are scolding me whenever they are in trouble. I feel people scold those people that are close to them. But people scold me and give their vote elsewhere," he said.

"I have also never lied and have been doing what I have been saying. I have clearly said that I will run the GTA with the help of the state government, but those who are showing that they are against Bengal are testing the GTA elections.

They were also the ones who were against the GTA, with some maintaining it was not good, while some said it was under the state government.

There were some who also said that they should not leave the goal post empty, which is why they were contesting. If you give them votes and make them win, they will not work, and later say that Bengal is doing nothing, so people should not have voted," Mr Thapa said, adding that some go and meet the Bengal CM and come back and say that they do not want to be puppets. He said that for the future of the people here, he was ready to become a puppet too. According to the BGPM chief, if the Hills gave him a chance once, he would work to build the future.

"A person who accepted the GTA, protested against it is now asking for votes in Tukvar valley, but our candidate has already won there, Mr Thapa further said. The BGPM leader here was apparently taking a jibe at Morcha leader Bimal Gurung, with Tukvar Valley known as his stronghold. Mr Gurung had also recently gone on a hunger strike, demanding that the GTA agreements should be fulfilled in totality first before the GTA polls.