BGPM sweeps the Panchayat election in Kalimpong and Darjeeling Hills : newcomer wins: BJP establishes its existence

KalimNews, Kalimpong, 11 July 2023: The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) won majority of the both Gram Panchayats (GP) and Panchayat Samity (PS) seats in both the districts of Kalimpong and Diarjeeling. In the district of Kalimpong, out of the 281 seats of 260 constituencies of 42 Gram Panchayats in the four blocks, BGPM could win 168 seats and could form the Board in 30 Gram Panchayats. 

Independents belonging to different political parties and totally independent could get 82 seats and form boards in 7 GPs, beside that Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) could get 29 seats and form boards in 2 GPs. All India Trinamul Congress (AITMC) could get one seat in the whole district. 

RESULT OF GP ELECTION IN THE 260 CONSTITUENCIES OF 4 BLOCKS OF KALIMPONG DISTRICT

In the Panchayat Samity election the scenario was a bit different. There are 4 Panchayat Samities Kalimpong I, Lava, pedong and Gorubathan and the total number of seats is 76. Kalimpong I has 30 seats, Lava has 14, Pedong has 10 and Gorubathan has 22 seats. 

In the Panchayat Samity of Kalimpong I, BGPM could win 17 seats out of 30 and in Lava 9 seats out of 14 and form board. In Pedong and Gorubathan Independents won the majority seats. Independents in Pedong won 5 out of 10 seats, while in Gorubathan independents won 12 out of 22 seats.  

 

In Kalimpong I PS seats won by all parties are BGPM- 17, BJP-3 and Independent- 10.  In Lava seats won by all parties are BGPM- 9, BJP-2 and Independent-3. In Pedong seats won by all parties are BGPM- 4, BJP-1 and Independent- 5. And in Gorubathan seats won by all parties are BGPM- 9, BJP-1 and Independent- 12.  

In the 76 seats of the four Panchayat Samities BGPM won 39 seats, BJP won 7 and Independents won 30 seats. 

The BJP was in alliance with the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, the CPI (M), Hamro Party and Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Morcha but it fought the election almost single handedly and the alliance didnot workout well.

The election result of the panchayat election held after 23 years indicates that a new trend is set by the voters. Almost all the political parties were new to fight this election, even the candidates were new to this Panchayat system and also the politics and political parties from which they contested. 

To win is one part of the election process but to function successfully is a different part which is most vital, in which most have failed so far and the people are experimenting.