Stark contrast: Darjeeling Hills remain ‘peaceful’ despite power shift

Amitava Banerjee, MP, May 6, 2026, Darjeeling: Kalimpong and the Darjeeling Hills presented a contrasting picture to the plains a day after the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared, with no reports of any untoward incidents even as sporadic violence was reported elsewhere.

The day was like any other in the Hills, with the hustle and bustle of tourists. However, the change in guard in the state was the talk of the town. Political camps were a beehive of activities.

Satish Pokhrel of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) stated that the party would work with the newly elected government for the development of the Hills.

“We are not Trinamool Congress. We worked with the TMC-led West Bengal government for the development of the region. Likewise, we will work with the newly formed government. In the next few days there will be a positive announcement from our side,” Pokhrel said in an address to party supporters, especially the Panchayats.

The BGPM, an ally of the Trinamool Congress, had contested all three hill seats (Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong) but was defeated by the BJP.

Meanwhile, the GJM and GNLF camps, allies of the BJP, were in a celebratory mood. Bimal Gurung met taxi drivers’ unions, hawkers and tea garden workers, assuring them that he would raise and resolve their problems.

“I will give top priority to the problems of tea garden workers and the taxi drivers,” Gurung said.

Mann Ghising, President of the GNLF, met supporters and leaders from different parts of the Hills.

In another development, Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, urging immediate steps to safeguard official documents in the Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik municipalities.

In his letter dated May 5, Bista said he had received representations alleging that sensitive records exposing corruption could be destroyed by caretaker administrators appointed by the Trinamool Congress government.

He noted that municipal elections have not been held since 2022 and claimed the civic bodies are being run through appointed caretakers, who face allegations of financial irregularities.

Bista requested the Chief Secretary to direct Executive Officers to secure all documents and prevent their removal from offices.

Courtesy & source- Millennium Post