Raju Bista files nomination for Darjeeling Lok Sabha Bimal Gurung, Mahendra P. Lama accompany BJP candidate

Our Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri, and the Terai and the Dooars regions are blessed with natural beauty, resources, talented youths, and business possibilities and carries immense potential for becoming the most prosperous region in India

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 3, 2024 : BJP nominee for Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency Raju Bista on Wednesday submitted his nomination papers at the office of the District Magistrate in Darjeeling amid the presence of hundreds of his supporters. He is also the sitting M.P. of Darjeeling. After filing the nomination papers he addressed a public meeting in the hill town. 

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung, former Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University Mahendra P Lama, Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba, and leaders of Gorkha National Liberation Front, Communist Party Of Revolutionary Marxists, Gorkha Rashrtiya Nirman Morcha the BJP and other opposition leaders were present in the meeting; pointing to the support to the BJP nominee from a cross section of political parties and intellectuals from the hills.

He said: “In contrast to the decades of neglect and indifference, for the past five years I have worked hard to lay the foundation for the resolution of our core political issues, and for addressing the massive developmental deficiency our region faces. I am most grateful to the people of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency and our alliance partners for recognizing these efforts, and standing shoulder to shoulder with me for transforming our region. 

“He said he considered himself fortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President J. P. Nadda, and the national and state leadership of the BJP had given him the responsibility and honour of being the candidate of the party to represent the Darjeeling LokSabha Constituency for the second time.

“Our Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Siliguri, and the Terai and the Dooars regions are blessed with natural beauty, resources, talented youths, and business possibilities and carries immense potential for becoming the most prosperous region in India. Yet, our region has been politically discriminated against, and kept deprived by the ruling party in West Bengal,” Bista said.

This time round, the choice was starkly clear for the people, Bista said. “On the one hand there is the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is laying the foundation for a developed India by 2047, and working towards fulfilling the commitments made to the people of our region in the next five years. 

On the other hand, they have Trinamool Congress and their allies, who are known for visionless, directionless, regressive politics, political terrorism, massive corruption, cut-money,‘ghotala’ and nepotism.”Bista offered prayers at the Mahakal temple in the morning, accompanied by leaders and alliance partners. A public meeting was organized at Chowrasta, followed by a rally to the office of the District Magistrate