Amit Shah’s visit to Siliguri in North Bengal on the weekend provided a boost to BJP MLAs, MPs and workers who are confident of retaining their stronghold in the hills and plains, with five out of seven seats in the hills and plains currently belonging to saffron party.
“Amit Shah ji's visit to our region is not just to encourage our karyakartas, but it's a symbol of BJP's deep-rooted commitment to the vibrant North Bengal region. It is only BJP that is keen to ensure justice for the people of our region and addressing key issues border security, tackling demographic changes, economic upliftment, employment generation for the youth and empowerment of marginalised communities in the hills and plains. People in our region strongly identify with BJP's commitment to "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikash," said Darjeeling MP Raju Bista.
Darjeeling got it’s first BJP MP from West Bengal in 2009 with 6.14 per cent votes in the state. BJP went on to win three assembly seats in the 2016 elections of which, two were from North Bengal. Today, BJP has a vote share of around 40 per cent in the state with the odds being highly in their favour in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Central interlocutor and hill politics
Hill politics, however, has taken a turn ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections with interlocuter Pankaj Kumar Singh assigned by the Centre in October 2025 to find a permanent solution to the separate statehood demand and detachment from West Bengal. Singh, a retired IPS officer and former Deputy National Security Advisor visited the hills ahead of Shah’s visit, with the BJP and GJM joining talks while other smaller parties stayed away from the meeting. The separate statehood demand still keeps the Gorkha community hopeful, irrespective of party lines, though they are yet to come to a consensus on the framework or trusting the role of the interlocutor.
The Bharatiya Gokha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) formed in 2021 and won local elections in 2022, stayed away from the meeting. Calling it a ploy, BGPM secretary Amar Lama said, “BJP has always played this sort of a game just before an election. I don’t think the interlocuter is necessary in case of Darjeeling because they already have their own Member of Parliament. Since 2009, BJP is winning from Darjeeling. Besides that, they have a number of MLAs also.”
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) pressed for a Union Territory with full legislative powers if the separate statehood is not granted and also demanded tribal status for 11 Gorkha sub-tribes.
Where the Gokhaland demand began
The demand for Gorkhaland has been there for decades with Subhash Ghisingh spearheading the agitation under Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) since 1980, leading to the formation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC) of which he was Chairman ruling administration in the hills for 23 years. Bimal Gurung broke off from the GNLF after opposing the Sixth Schedule tribal council, forming the GJM, sending Ghisingh into exile for three years. While the demand of Gorkhaland continued, joining hands with Trinamool Congress (TMC) helped solve unrest in the hills with the formation of the autonomous body Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) under the West Bengal government.
TMC and BJP tussle over interlocutor
TMC stayed away from the interlocutor meet as West Bengal Chief Minister objected to the Centre’s appointment of Singh being an outsider without consulting the state government. The ruling TMC also believes it impacts the functioning of the GTA.
With the saffron party coming to power in the hills since 2009, the BJP is a strong voice in talks with Singh and still believe in the demand for a separate state. “Taking into view the National Security concerns of the chicken neck area, with this kind of Chief Minister who does not believe in the institutions of the military, ED and CBI. I believe that Darjeeling and all surrounding areas need to be secured so there has to be a political solution,” said BJP's Darjeeling MLA Neeraj Zimba.
During the meeting with the interlocuter, Zimba suggested starting from the beginning of the Constitution with the solution being in Article 3, which is separate statehood. The other option is the Sixth Schedule, which is Article 244. While the Sixth Schedule did not technically come into force due to technical glitches in the Parliament, Zimba says it was placed before the standing committee.
While the BJP looks at the interlocuter’s visit to Darjeeling as a harbinger to change, the BGPM believes it is a ploy by BJP to capture all seven seats in the hills and plains. “There is representation from all sides. As far as Darjeeling and Delhi is concerned, there is no conflict at all. This is nothing but a futile exercise on the part of BJP from Darjeeling and Delhi,” said Lama.
The question is whether the BJP will grant separate statehood or whether it is an eyewash to make the people of the hills believe the saffron party has their (Gorkhas) best interests at heart, while keeping the TMC away? For the power-hungry BJP, holding onto their stronghold is not their only goal, but instead it is to capture the rest of North Bengal and make inroads into more constituencies of the state, going beyond the 77-seat tally secured in 2021.
