BJP Introduces New Faces in Darjeeling Hills, Stirring Debate Ahead of 2026 Polls

KalimNews, 19 March, Kalimpong: Bringing an end to days of uncertainty, the Central Election Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday unveiled its list of candidates for the three hill Assembly constituencies—Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong—for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. The decision reflects a noticeable strategic shift by the party, though it has simultaneously invited criticism and internal discontent.

The BJP has chosen to retain Kurseong and Kalimpong while allotting the Darjeeling seat to its ally, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJMM). GJM youth wing president Noman Rai will contest from Darjeeling on a BJP ticket. Although the GJMM had also sought the Kalimpong seat, it expressed satisfaction with the final arrangement.  

In a move that has surprised many, the BJP has opted for fresh candidates across all three constituencies to take on the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), which is aligned with the All India Trinamool Congress. The BJP party has fielded Noman Rai in Darjeeling, former Indian hockey captain Bharat Chetri—a newcomer to politics—in Kalimpong, and Sonam Lama in Kurseong.

Of the three sitting BJP MLAs in the hills, two Neeraj Zimba (Darjeeling) and Bishnu Prasad Sharma (Kurseong), have been denied tickets. Sharma has since resigned from the BJP and joined the Trinamool Congress. Meanwhile, BGPM’s Ruden Sada Lepcha continues as the sitting MLA from Kalimpong.

The BJP leadership has refrained from making any public statements regarding these decisions, even as speculation grows over its alliance strategy ahead of the 23 April polls.

The party remains aligned with several regional groups, including the GJMM, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM), the Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Morcha, and SUMETI Morcha.

“As of now, we are all in alliance. Our primary aim is to defeat and oust the Trinamool Congress and its alliance partner from the hills,” said BJP national spokesperson and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.

Following the 2017 statehood agitation, the GNLF had been widely regarded as the BJP’s principal ally in the hills. However, recent developments indicate that the GJMM has moved closer to the party. Notably, in both the 2019 and 2024 elections, the BJP had fielded Neeraj Zimba of the GNLF from Darjeeling, where he secured victory twice.

Reacting to the development, Zimba, who had been hoping for a third term, stated: “The ticket is given by the BJP who may have the notion of the other candidate being more probable. In politics these things happen, but I had faith on the BJP and Bista. Our relation is not based on ticket and chair but on the larger interests of the community.”

However, dissatisfaction has emerged within the GNLF. Party spokesperson Y. Lama said: “The sitting MLA should have been honoured. We are not happy with the decision of the BJP of which we were not aware of. We will hold a central committee meeting to decide on future outcomes.”

Sources within the BJP, however, suggested that the GNLF had formally conveyed its decision not to field candidates in this election, which may have contributed to the denial of a ticket to Zimba despite his personal willingness to contest.

Expressing gratitude, Noman Rai thanked both the BJP and GJM leadership for their trust. He affirmed that he would remain committed to achieving a Permanent Political Solution (PPS) for the hills, alongside promoting development and employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), formerly known as Hamro Party and led by Ajoy Edwards, is yet to declare its candidates and continues to position itself as a regional political force.

The BGPM, which currently administers the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, has already announced its nominees: Ruden Sada Lepcha (Kalimpong), Vijay Kumar Rai (Darjeeling), and Amar Lama (Kurseong). The Trinamool Congress has left all three seats to its ally. 

Within the BJP, the selection of candidates has led to visible dissatisfaction among party workers. BJP leader Manoj Dewan stated that cadres were unhappy, particularly in Kurseong, where different candidates were expected.

He alleged that the selections appeared to be a unilateral decision by Raju Bista rather than a collective one involving the central leadership. Dewan warned of possible en masse resignations and claimed that capable leaders such as himself, Rajen Mukhia, and Hemant Gautam Sharma had been overlooked. He further noted similar discontent among party members in Kalimpong.

Ajay Sharma another BJP leader echoed these concerns, stating: “We are not against Sonam Lama but more able candidates were available in the party. We must field candidates to come over victorious against our rival party, so its a big challenge to us.” He also indicated that an independent candidate might be fielded.

Political observers believe that the evolving scenario could lead to a highly competitive, possibly triangular contest. The Trinamool-BGPM alliance was largely anticipated; however, the BJP’s internal equations and its renewed engagement with the GJMM have added fresh complexity. The GNLF appears to have lost ground, while the IGJF is yet to take a definitive position.

The BJP’s latest move is also seen as an attempt to strengthen its organisational presence in the hills, where its base has traditionally been limited. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP and its allies secured Darjeeling and Kurseong but lost Kalimpong to the BGPM.

Further adding to the intrigue, discussions are gaining traction around the formation of a possible third front excluding both the BJP and the Trinamool Congress—an outcome that could significantly shape the political future of the Darjeeling hills.

Among the candidates is Bharat Kumar Chetri, a former Olympian and ex-captain of the Indian hockey team, who currently runs the Bharat Chetri Hockey Academy in Kalimpong. A complete newcomer to politics, he had no prior association with the BJP before his nomination.

As the election approaches, the Darjeeling hills are set for a closely watched and high-stakes contest, marked by shifting alliances, new entrants, and growing internal tensions across political parties.