Raju Bista wins big in Darjeeling, promises justice for Gorkha people won by 178525 votes

Bista -178525 (51.18%), Lama- 500806 (37.73%): In comparison to result of Parliamentary election of 2019 its 7.9 % decrease to BJP and 11.22% increase to AITC.

(Click to enlarge: source- ECI)

EOI, DARJEELING, JUNE 4, 2024 : The sitting BJP MP from Darjeeling, Raju Bista retained his seat for the second term defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Gopal Lama by a margin of over 100,000 votes, at the end of counting, on Tuesday. 

The trend was set after the first round of counting, with Bista leading Lama by over 10,000 votes in the plains segments and by over 5000 votes in the hills constituencies. 

The Darjeeling constituency comprises the hill segments of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, while Siliguri, Matigara-Naxalbari, Phansidewa and Chopra make up the plains segments. 

In the Darjeeling assembly segment, the BJP got 87,062 votes and the Trinamool 55,736 votes, in Kalimpong the BJP got 77,524 votes and the Trinamool got 53,743 and in Kurseong the BJP got 93,419 votes while the Trinamool got 55,068 votes. 

The BJP is in alliance with the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Morcha and the SUMETI Morcha. 

Before heading for the counting centre at the Darjeeling Government College in the morning, Bista visited the revered Mahakal temple at Chowrasta to offer prayers. 

(Click to enlarge: source- ECI)

After the announcement of his victory, Bista said it was a victory of the people of the Hills, Terai and Dooars and their aspirations. 

"This victory is for the people and to bring to end the atrocities of Bengal and development of the hills. I thank the people for showing their trust on me and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. 

Bista first visited GNLF president Mann Ghising at his residence where supporters burst crackers. Bista then went to meet GJM president, Bimal Gurung in the latter's party office with supporters rejoicing the victory with song and dance on the street. 

"I thank Bimal daju and Ghising ji and all our alliance partners for their support. Now my vision and goal is clear. I gained experience in the past five years. And now will go to parliament with renewed vigour and energy. The Gorkha community will get justice within the next five years," he said. 

According to the data available in the portal of the Election Commission of India at the time of writing this report, 6,46,519 votes were polled in favour of Bista and 4,88,098 votes for Lama with a victory margin of 1,58,421 votes for the former. 

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Bista won by a record margin of over 4.13 lakh votes against the Trinamool Congress-GJM (Binoy Tamang faction) combine candidate Amar Singh Rai. Surprisingly, Bista won by an impressive margin from Kurseong which is the home ground of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha chief Anit Thapa who heads the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and is the key ally of Trinamool in the hills. 

The GJM president said there was a lot of work for the BJP to do for the community and that he would keep reminding Bista. 

"The demand for tribal status will be given priority. We will keep pressuring Bista and the BJP to fulfill this demand as early as possible. There are lots of other work to do for the hills and Terai people," said Gurung. 

In its 2019 Sankalp Patra, the BJP had promised to find a permanent political solution for the hills and grant tribal status to the 11 left out Gorkha communities, which has not been fulfilled, yet. 

The BGPM president congratulated Bista on his victory and said in democracy the mandate of the people had to be accepted. 

"We tried a lot to bring about a change in the mindset of the people but failed. People have voted for the BJP and we have to accept their mandate. Now for 20 years people have voted for the BJP and expect results. I want to congratulate Bista and hope he will work the people," he said.