Darjeeling/Balurghat, April 15 -- While BJP leader and Union Home minister Amit Shah failed to keep his date with Darjeeling on Wednesday, a visibly thin turnout at Shah's election campaign in Gangarampur, South Dinajpur on Tuesday has left the saffron brigade disappointed.

Shah was scheduled to campaign for the three BJP hill candidates at Lebong Ground in Darjeeling on Wednesday. Elaborate arrangements were made. Supporters arrived from all over the Hills. "The Union Home Minister Amit Shah could not attend owing to inclement weather in Darjeeling. His helicopter could not land," claimed Raju Bista, MP, Darjeeling.

Shah, however, addressed the gathering virtually from Malda. He stated that the BJP would definitely form the government in West Bengal. "As soon as we come to power, we will withdraw thousands of cases clamped on the Gorkhas in the Darjeeling Hills and end the police raj. We will also give priority to ending the Gorkha impasse," stated Shah, alleging that Mamata Banerjee is not interested in resolving the issue.

"As the Union Home Minister, I had called three meetings in Delhi on the Gorkha issue in the past one a half years. Didi did not attend, nor did she send any state government representative. We then appointed an interlocutor who met all stakeholders. He tried to talk to the state government. They did not give him time. But don't worry, after May 5, when we come to power in Bengal, we will give priority to resolving the Gorkha issue under the framework of the Indian Constitution," assured Shah.

He also stated that he will be addressing party supporters on April 21 in the foothills of Sukna. "There I will reveal the roadmap of development for the Hills. I will talk in detail and will make many important announcements from Sukna," said Shah. Meanwhile, expectations of a massive crowd at Amit Shah's rally in Gangarampur's Gachihar on Tuesday afternoon fell flat, as a visibly thin turnout left BJP leaders and workers disappointed.

It was also a major damper for small-time traders.

According to local sources, empty chairs at the start of the rally created unease among party leaders. The situation reportedly escalated into a heated exchange between BJP candidate Satyendranath Roy and local leaders. Acknowledging the incident later, Roy said: "Such moments of tension can lead to disagreements. However, the crowd did increase as the rally progressed." His claim, however, found little support among small traders who had set up roadside stalls hoping for brisk business.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.