Binoy Tamang extends support to BJP, expelled from Congress for six year

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Binoy Tamang said earlier on Tuesday that he would support BJP Darjeeling LokSabha seat candidate Raju Bista in the elections

EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 23, 2024 : The Congress on Tuesday expelled its West Bengal unit general secretary BinoyTamang for six years for "anti-party activities", hours after the Gorkha leader extended support to the BJP's Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat candidate Raju Bista. 

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Binoy Tamang said earlier on Tuesday that he would support BJP Darjeeling LokSabha seat candidate Raju Bista in the elections and would urge the people in the hills to vote for the saffron party leader.

He said he had taken the decision "independently after deep thought and realisation on all issues. "Tamang said: "I extend my sincere support to BJP Darjeeling constituency candidate Raju Bista for constitutional security and justice for the people of Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, the Terai and the Dooars. 

I humbly request all my respected fellow citizens of Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, the Terai, my associates, supporters, well-wishers, friends, relatives, and families to cast their precious votes to the BJP candidate Raju Bista in the lotus symbol," he said. Tamang also claimed that he had sensed a strong possibility of BJP forming the next government in West Bengal after the 2026 assembly elections here. 

"In this 2024 general election, the BJP government is sure to come to power at the Centre, and there is a strong possibility that the BJP government will come to power in West Bengal in 2026 as well. It is not appropriate and wise to go against the party that comes in power at the Centre and the state," he said. 

Previously, Binoy Tamang had been vocal against the BJP, alleging it was not serious about the issues of the Gorkha community. “The BJP is a national party and situations change,:” he said on Tuesday. 

“It is prudent and therefore I urge the people to vote for the BJP candidate. ”Following this, the WBPCC announced the expulsion of Binoy Tamang from the party."Binoy Tamang has been expelled from the party for six years for anti-party activities. His expulsion will be effective immediately," Congress leader and former MLA Manoj Chakraborty said. Binoy Tamang said his expulsion from the Congress was a "victory for Gorkhas" and he was not much bothered by it. 

"It does not really matter...My expulsion from the Congress is a victory for the Gorkhas and a defeat for the grand old party, "Tamang said. “It would have been a matter of concern if I had been ousted by my Gorkhas.”

Binoy Tamang had expressed displeasure over the Congress nominating Munish Tamang, former national president of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP), for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, less than a week after he joined the grand old party. The former chairperson of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration said the Congress leadership did not consult him nor any of the party leaders in the hills before deciding on nominating Munish Tamang as the party candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

"The BJP will win here. We can sense it here. We do not support Munish Tamang as none of the Congress leaders here were consulted for that," Binoy Tamang said. 

"To eliminate corruption and nepotism, to lead the path for constitutional justice of Darjeeling hills, Siliguri, the Terai and the Dooars, please vote for Raju Bista," he urged the people of the hills. Tamang said that since he has dedicated his life to the people of the hills and the Gorkha community, he would not be able to lead them to a "wrong path" but protect them. 

"I have taken this decision independently after deep thought and realisation on all the issues, considering the policy in principle as paramount. No one has interfered with me to take this decision, nor am I in contact with anyone,"Binoy Tamang said. 

BJP candidate Raju Bista said the event emphasized the disarray that the Congress was in even before the casting of votes. “The situation of the Congress was not good in Bengal and it is ironic that even their state secretary is also supporting the BJP candidate,” Raju Bista said. Darjeeling is scheduled to go for the polls on April 26