BGPM sweeps GTA election: to head GTA Sabha with clear majority

Four elected candidates of BGPM: Sinora Namchu, Kamal Subba, Lakpa Namgyal Lama, and Ratan Thapa: Photo- FB

PTI, KalimNews and agencies, 29 June 2022: The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), a political outfit all of nine months, has swept the elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in the Darjeeling hills, pocketing 27 out of 45 seats including an independent candidate Rajesh Chauhan (Rungbull Doteriah) who declared his support to the BGPM. It had fielded 35 candidates for 35 constituencies. More independent candidates are likely to support BGPM in the GTA Sabha.

Previous Sabhsads of GTA 2012, Anit Thapa (2 constituencies- Kurseong Giddapahar and Sittong Latpanchar), Uday Dewan (Sukhia Maneybhanjyang), Arun Sigchi (Soureni), Ratan Thapa (Mungpoo Labdha), Anusha kumar Thapa ( Sonada pachyang) of BGPM and Binoy Tamang (of TMC from Bloomfield Rishihat) are once again reelected in this election, while all others are new comers except Sanchabir Subba who was nominated member of  GTA Board of administration during 2017-2021. 

The party, led by former GTA chairman Anit Thapa is set to form the board at the 45 elected and five nominated member Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha. While the ruling TMC party has grabbed five seats in the GTA polls, the Independents have won five seats as well. 

This is the first time since the formation of the GTA in 2012 that the TMC has managed to win any seat. The newly-formed Hamro party has won eight seats, while BGPM has won 27 seats. The Independents have fared well, winning five seats so far. In an election, which has been boycotted by BJP and its local allies, the Independent candidates comprised of two-third of the total candidates fielded for the GTA elections.

Voting for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in Darjeeling hills and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad in north Bengal was held on June 26.

The Trinamool Congress  won 320 out of the 462 seats in 22 gram panchayats in the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad Elections. The BJP has won 86 seats while the Congress has won 21 gram panchayat seats, the CPI(M) has won only 15. The Independents have bagged 20 seats.

Reacting to the poll results, the Hamro Party, which had won the Darjeeling Municipality a few months back, said it would play the role of a responsible opposition in the GTA. 

“The people of the hills have given a mandate. We accept it with all humility,” Hamro Party chief Ajoy Edwards said. 

Hamro Party founder Ajoy Edwards has said that he was surprised that the ruling TMC party managed to bag five seats in the GTA polls. In the last two civic body polls in Darjeeling, the TMC had managed to win collectively three seats — 1 in 2017, and 2 in 2022.

After being launched in January by Ajoy Edwards, Hamro Party has impressed all. First, they swept the Muncipal Polls in Darjeeling earlier this year, winning 18 out of 32 seats. In the GTA polls, the party has won eight seats.

The TMC's Binay Tamang, who is one of the victorious candidates in GTA polls, said that the party would continue to work for the development of the hills.

The TMC contested 10 seats, and won five. The election to GTA is important as whoever controls it gets the upper hand in the hill politics.

“This win is dedicated to the people of north Bengal hills who have put their faith in us. We will work for the development of the people in this region,” Thapa told reporters.

After TMC won 5 seats in the 45-member GTA, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed people's verdict for reposing their faith in 'Maa, Maati Manush.'