B. P. Bajgain files as independent from Darjeeling LokSabha seat

“I am not against the party and I am still in the BJP. I am contesting against the choice of candidate made by the party. I am moving forward with the demand of statehood which the BJP had announced as the Permanent Political Solution in their manifesto

EOI, DARJEELING, MARCH 30, 2024 : BJP MLA from Kurseong B. P. Bajgain filed his nomination papers for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat on Saturday as an independent candidate in protest against the decision of the BJP leadership in Delhi to give ticket to sitting Darjeeling MP Raju Bista from the Darjeeling LokSabha seat. 

The rebel BJP MLA had earlier publicly announced his decision to contest the election as an independent if the party fielded an 'outsider' instead of a 'bhumi putra'. Bista is from Manipur while his in-laws are from the Darjeeling hills. 

“I am not against the party and I am still in the BJP. I am contesting against the choice of candidate made by the party. I am moving forward with the demand of statehood which the BJP had announced as the Permanent Political Solution in their manifesto. When we had talks with the central leaders of the party, we were told that the PPS meant statehood. If the party feels that PPS is not statehood then let them clear their stand within 24 hours that they do not support statehood. Then I will be against the party,” said Bajgain. 

The Kurseong MLA said he was following the slogan "vocal for local" coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I do not support a candidate from outside as they only work to keep a lid on the issues. Only a candidate from our region will understand our issues which I had made clear to the party,” said Bajgain. 

Bajgain further added that he had taken the decision to contest the elections on the issue of Gorkhaland without consulting anyone from the BJP. “I joined politics because of the separate state demand. I am still with the party. If the party feels that I am working against them,

I am ready to face any punishment,” the BJP MLA said. He also said he had met political parties that were taking up the statehood issue which was his “political dharma” and it was up to them to make their own decision. 

Bajgain said he had 17 points in his manifesto, the main issue being separation from West Bengal