Polling peaceful in Hills, outstation residents return to cast votes.

MP, 24 April 2026, Darjeeling: Polling was largely peaceful in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, with no reports of untoward incidents. Till the last update, polling percentage stood at nearly 88 per cent in Darjeeling and 82.75 per cent in Kalimpong.

“Polls passed off peacefully in the Hills with no reports of any untoward incidents. People voted with great enthusiasm,” stated Harishanker Panicker, District Electoral Officer, Darjeeling, talking to Millennium Post.

Keeping with the tradition of peaceful polls, the day resembled a holiday in Darjeeling, aided by pleasant weather. People queued up from early morning to cast votes, with many attributing the heavy turnout to the fallout of SIR.

“It is a popular belief that if a person fails to cast his or her vote, their names could be struck off the electoral rolls in future. All those working elsewhere returned just to vote. Everybody made it a point to cast their votes this time,” stated Sukman Rai, a local resident.

“I came for a day to cast my vote. It was hard to get a train ticket. Somehow I managed,” stated Manisha, a Darjeeling resident working in Kolkata.

“I met so many of my students who have now settled in other cities and have returned to vote. It was great catching up with them,” stated Noreen Dunne, a retired professor.

Most shops remained closed across the Hills, marking an unannounced holiday.

“People have shown great enthusiasm to vote this time. Change is inevitable. I have never witnessed such an election in the past. However, I feel bad for the genuine voters whose names have been struck off due to the SIR process. It is a grave injustice,” stated Ajoy Edwards, Chief Convenor of the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front and candidate from Darjeeling.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Darjeeling and Kurseong were won by the BJP, while Kalimpong went to the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha.

“Peace is the only way in which we can take our Hills forward. I thank the public and all political parties for maintaining peace. We are confident of winning all three seats,” stated Anit Thapa, BGPM president and TMC ally.

“Darjeeling wants change. People want a change from corruption and nepotism. I am sure there will be a change in the Darjeeling Hills and Bengal,” stated Bimal Gurung, President, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, an ally of the BJP.

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post