TMC won polls but this party is the most important

July 12, 2023 10:02

TMC supporters celebrate their victory in the panchayat elections

The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) emerged as the most important political party in West Bengal's northern hills, with its candidates winning a large number of panchayat seats in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the rural polls.

Two-tier panchayat elections, as against three-tier polls in the rest of the state, were held in the area under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous council already controlled by the BGPM, after 23 years on July 8.

The BGPM, which is led by GTA chief executive Anit Thapa, won 349 of the 598 seats in 70 gram panchayats in Darjeeling district, according to the latest results issued by the district administration.

The BJP, which led an eight-party United Gorkha Alliance against the BGPM in the rural polls, bagged only 59 seats, while Independent candidates secured 185 seats and the TMC won five.

The BGPM also won 96 of 156 panchayat samiti seats in Darjeeling district, while BJP won only 19 and Independent candidates emerged victorious in 41.

In neighbouring Kalimpong, the BGPM bagged 168 of the 281 seats in 42 gram panchayats, while the BJP won 29 and Independent candidates emerged victorious in 82 seats. The TMC won only one seat, according to a document issued by the district administration.

The BGPM won 39 of 76 panchayat samiti seats in the district, while the BJP won seven seats and Independent nominees 30.

The BGPM, which shares close ties with the ruling Trinamool Congress, faced the united might of an eight-party United Gorkha Alliance, which included the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by Bimal Gurung, Hamro Party of restaurateur-politician Ajoy Edwards and Gorkha National Liberation Front, which was formed by Subhash Ghisingh.

Thapa, smeared in yellow 'abir' (gulaal) while celebrating his party's victory, told reporters on Tuesday evening, "This is people's victory. They have given us a chance to work for them. We will bring development to the grassroots level."

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