BJP's Strategic Move? Second Round of Tripartite Talks on Darjeeling to Be Held Amid Election Preparations

Rajesh Sharma, KalimNews, March 31, 2025 : Political analysts have speculated that the Centre’s upcoming meeting to discuss the Darjeeling issue could be a strategic move by the BJP ahead of the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, aiming to secure Gorkha support. Scheduled for April 2, 2025, the meeting will focus on long-standing issues concerning the Gorkha community, though it remains unclear whether the contentious Gorkhaland issue will be addressed or whether a permanent political solution for the hills will emerge.

The upcoming round of tripartite talks, organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, follows a gap of over three years since the first meeting, which was held on October 12, 2021, under Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At that time, the Union Government, along with representatives from the West Bengal Government and the Gorkha community, discussed ways to resolve the region’s issues. However, despite initial promises, a second round of talks scheduled for November 2021 never took place.

The new meeting, to be chaired by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, will involve representatives from the Central Government, the West Bengal Government, and stakeholders from Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars regions. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista confirmed his invitation and expressed hope that the discussions would be productive, potentially paving the way for positive developments in the region.

One noticeable feature of this upcoming meeting is that only the presidents of certain political parties from the Gorkha community have been invited, with senior functionaries like general secretaries excluded. This selective inclusion has led some analysts to speculate that the Centre may want to keep the proceedings confidential or limit the scope of discussions to specific groups. Among those invited are prominent figures such as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung, Gorkha National Liberation Front President Mann Ghising, and BJP MLA from Darjeeling, Neeraj Zimba. Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha leader Dawa Pakhrin is also expected to attend.

The Gorkha community has long sought political recognition and autonomy from the West Bengal Government, citing cultural, linguistic, and traditional differences. In previous discussions, the Union Government assured that the development and prosperity of the Darjeeling Hills and surrounding areas remain a top priority. However, the absence of senior officials from the West Bengal Government in the upcoming meeting has raised questions about the level of commitment from the state government to resolve these issues.

Despite these challenges, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista remains optimistic. "This meeting is a significant step forward, and I believe it will lead to meaningful solutions for the people of the Darjeeling Hills," he said. With elections approaching, the outcome of these talks could have lasting political ramifications, especially as the BJP seeks to secure Gorkha support in the region.