Assembly Elections in the Hills: Four Nominations Withdrawn, Twenty Candidates in the Fray

KalimNews, Kalimpong, April 9, 2026 : On the final day for withdrawal of nominations for the Kalimpong Assembly constituency elections, one dummy candidate, Nima Tshering Bhutia of the IGJF, withdrew his nomination. With this development, a total of seven candidates now remain in the electoral fray for this constituency. 

Earlier today, at the Kalimpong Sub-Divisional Office, the Election Returning Officer officially allotted election symbols to all seven candidates, as informed to local media personnel. Among the candidates, Rudden Sada Lepcha of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has been allotted the symbol “Torchlight,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Bharat Kumar Chhetri received the symbol “Lotus” Congress (INC) candidate Sant Kumar Pradhan was allotted the symbol “Hand,” Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) candidate Bhernone Britto Lepcha received “Bread”,  All India Gorkha League (AIGL) candidate Shishir Sharma was allotted the symbol “Nib (of Fountain Pen)”, CPI(M) candidate Rita Thapa received the symbol “Hammer, Sickle and Star,” and Independent candidate Adrian Lepcha was allotted the symbol “Whistle,” the ERO informed during the press conference.

These seven candidates will now primarily compete in the election scheduled to be held on April 23 for the 22-Kalimpong Assembly constituency. Earlier, on April 7, the nomination papers of all candidates were scrutinized and declared valid.

According to official sources, a total of nine candidates had initially filed their nominations for this election. During the scrutiny process, of the nine nomination papers, eight were found to be valid, bringing the total number of contesting candidates to eight at that stage. Between March 30 and April 6, nomination papers were submitted by candidates including Rudden Sada Lepcha (BGPM), Bharat Kumar Chhetri (BJP), Sant Kumar Pradhan and Dilip Pradhan (INC), Bhernone Britto Lepcha and Nima Tshering Bhutia (IGJF as independent), Shishir Sharma (AIGL), Rita Thapa (CPI-M), and Independent candidate Adrian Lepcha.

With one nomination now withdrawn, the electoral contest in Kalimpong has narrowed to seven candidates, setting the stage for a competitive and closely observed election. 

In Kurseong, out of nine candidates who had initially filed their nominations, two Independent candidates, Tanuja Lama and Prashant Lama, withdrew their nominations. With this, seven candidates now remain in the race, making it another fragmented contest. The key contenders include Sonam Lama of the BJP, Bandana Rai of the IGJF, and Amar Lama of the BGPM. Saroj Kumar Khattri of the Congress and Uttam Brahman of the CPI(M) are also in the fray, along with Independent candidates Sumendra Tamang and Mohan Sharma. The presence of multiple candidates from different political backgrounds is expected to intensify competition and divide the vote share.

In Darjeeling, six candidates are contesting after one Independent candidate, Phinjo Wangyal Gurung, withdrew his nomination. This has led to the emergence of a triangular contest among prominent candidates. The main contenders include Noman Rai of the GJM (contesting on a BJP ticket), Ajoy Lucas Edwards of the IGJF, and Bijoy Kumar Rai of the BGPM. Additionally, Madhap Rai of the Congress and Milan Thokar are also in the fray, along with Independent candidate Jatin Ghalay.