Darjeeling, May 13 -- A few days after the change of guard in Bengal, public representatives in the Darjeeling Hills have started crossing over to the BJP.
On Wednesday, an independent Sabhasad of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) from the 36th Constituency joined the BJP. In another development, the chairperson of the Gorubathan Panchayat Samity, along with a Karmadakshya, crossed over to the BJP from the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM). They were welcomed into the BJP fold by Sanjeev Lama, president of BJP Darjeeling (Hills), in Kalimpong.
Darjeeling Lok Sabha MP Raju Bista said that Palden Tamang, the independent Sabhasad of the GTA's 36th Constituency in Kalimpong district, joined the BJP in Siliguri on Wednesday along with his supporters.
"We deeply appreciate the unwavering support and tireless efforts of Palden Tamang and his team during the recently concluded election campaign in Kalimpong. Their dedication, commitment and faith in our shared vision for justice, development and progress in the region have further strengthened our collective mission," Bista said.
Tamang had won the GTA elections as an independent candidate but had been sitting on the Opposition bench. He considered himself an ally of the BJP and had campaigned for the BJP candidate in Kalimpong. In another development, Surya Mani Rai, chairperson of the Gorubathan Panchayat Samity, and Sisir Pradhan joined the BJP in Kalimpong.
"We want to send out a message - let us forget the past and start afresh. Let us all work together for the people and ensure that the public do not suffer. The BJP will not induct everyone. There are many who only seek power and have no ideology. They join whichever party is in power. Such people will not be allowed to join the BJP as leaders," said Sanjeev Lama, BJP Darjeeling district president (Hills).
"BJP has an online membership system. Anyone can join as a cadre. As far as leadership is concerned, we will prepare the youth so that the Hills get clean and capable leaders," he added.
The defections have triggered speculation that more leaders from panchayats and even the GTA may join the BJP in the coming days. BJP insiders claimed that they have already received feelers from different quarters, including GTA Sabhasads interested in crossing over.
At present, both the panchayats and the GTA are controlled by the BGPM. Political defections are not new in the Hills and have often led to major shifts in the region's political landscape.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.