India, April 13 -- In West Bengal's northern hill region where the Gorkha community decides the course of politics, the three assembly seats of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong are all set to witness four-cornered contests in the first phase of polling on April 23.

The three seats - Darjeeling, immortalised in numerous novels and movies including Satyajit Ray's movie Kanchenjunga, Kurseong and Kalimpong - have a combined population of 0.875 million, according to the 2011 census.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) earmarked the three seats for its ally, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), led by Anit Thapa. The BGPM not only controls the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) but also most gram panchayats and panchay...