Anit Thapa Calls for Unity and Peace After Election Setback During Kalimpong Visit

KalimNews, May 10, 2026, Kalimpong : Anit Thapa, Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), visited Kalimpong for the first time after the West Bengal Legislative Assembly election results. During his visit, he met party leaders, workers, and supporters and reviewed the progress of the proposed bus and car parking project near Novelty at 9th Mile, which is currently under completion..

Thapa also addressed a major internal meeting attended by party workers, elected representatives, and supporters, where he delivered a strong message of unity, resilience, and peaceful democratic politics following the party’s electoral defeat.

Speaking to party members, Thapa urged them not to panic over the election outcome and reminded them that the victory belonged to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and not to any regional rival party. He stressed that BGPM remained politically strong despite the setback and continued to hold power in the GTA along with support from nearly 90 percent of gram panchayats in the hills.

He said the party had fought the election independently and still managed to secure around 1.76 lakh votes, making BGPM one of the strongest single regional political forces in the hills. According to him, the people of the region have consistently supported BGPM in regional-level politics, although state and national-level elections often produce different outcomes.

Reflecting on the party’s journey, Thapa recalled the difficult days when BGPM was formed in 2017. He said the party and its leaders faced hostility and criticism in the beginning, yet they continued moving forward with determination and eventually emerged victorious in later elections. Even though the party lost this time, he emphasized that the struggle was far from over and that the organization would continue advancing politically.

A central theme of his speech was the importance of peace in the Darjeeling hills. Thapa stated that BGPM had never believed in violent agitation, strikes, or confrontational politics. He described peace and stability as the greatest achievements brought by the party, pointing out that students are now able to attend school regularly, drivers can continue their work peacefully, and businesses are functioning without disruption.

He appealed to party workers not to lose heart in defeat or become excessively emotional in victory. According to him, politics naturally involves both success and failure, and mature political workers must learn to accept both with balance and discipline.

Thapa repeatedly emphasized trust and unity within the party. He assured workers that he had never betrayed anyone and would continue to guide them responsibly. He said the strength of BGPM lies in its unity and collective energy, which had helped the party survive difficult political circumstances since 2017.

He encouraged all panchayat leaders, sabhasads, and party representatives to visit villages and personally thank the people for their support. He also instructed party leader and candidate for the MLA seat and former MLA Ruden Sada to travel across constituencies and express gratitude to voters who supported both him and BGPM during what he described as a strong BJP wave.

On governance issues, Thapa stated that development work in villages would continue without interruption despite the election outcome. He also encouraged citizens to use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to seek any information they require from the GTA administration, underlining the need for transparency and accountability.

During the interaction, Thapa thanked Bimal Gurung for withdrawing the proposed Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) programme to gherao Lal Kothi, the GTA headquarters. He appealed to all political groups to continue following peaceful democratic methods, noting that stability had finally returned to the hills after years of unrest.

At the same time, he expressed support for an audit of the GTA administration since 2011, saying transparency would help remove doubts and strengthen public confidence. He added that anyone with concerns should formally write to the government rather than resorting to confrontation.

Responding to questions from reporters, Thapa explained that his post-election meetings with party leaders were aimed at understanding the reasons behind the electoral loss and planning future political strategies. He maintained that BGPM would continue to move forward with renewed determination.

He further stated that if the government eventually replaces the GTA with a larger or more powerful administrative arrangement, BGPM would welcome such a move and contest elections under that new system as well. However, he clarified that he had never stated any intention of joining the BJP.

Thapa concluded by saying that BGPM is willing to cooperate with the government if mutual cooperation exists, but warned that if cooperation is denied, the party would also reconsider its approach. Despite the electoral setback, he projected confidence that BGPM would remain a significant political force in the Darjeeling hills and continue working for peace, development, and the welfare of the people.