Two BJP-MLAs in Darjeeling threaten to contest as Independents in 2024 Lok Sabha election
Telegraph | 17 March 2024
The BJP is facing a bizarre situation in Darjeeling with two of its MLAs threatening to contest as Independents in this Lok Sabha election for contrasting reasons.
Neeraj Zimba, the two-time Darjeeling MLA on a BJP ticket, on Saturday said he would contest from the Darjeeling seat as an Independent if BJP MP Raju Bista were denied a BJP ticket. Darjeeling votes on April 26, the second of the seven-phase polls.
Kuresong BJP MLA B.P. Sharma (Bajgain) wants to contest as an Independent if “any outsider” is granted the BJP ticket.
"It is with solemn resolve that I declare, should the Central Leadership of the BJP fail to renominate the candidature of Shri Raju Bista from the Darjeeling constituency, I will have no alternative but to contest independently as a candidate in protest against this decision,” went Zimba's written statement to the media.
Zimba, also the secretary-general of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), is known to be close to Bista.
The BJP has not yet announced its Darjeeling nominee.
"There are talks that former foreign secretary of India Harsh Vardhan Shringla is being considered (as the BJP nominee),” said a source.
Shringla traces his roots to Darjeeling.
Many believe that the Shringla factor is one of the reasons for the BJP's delay in announcing its nominee.
"Zimba’s announcement of today (Saturday) is also driven by the Shringla factor,” said a BJP worker.
BJP MLA Bajgain said he would contest as an Independent if Bista, Shringla or “any outsider” gets the BJP ticket in Darjeeling.
"Darjeeling must be represented by a bhoomiputra (son of the soil). I consider both Bista and Shringla outsiders. If outsiders get the ticket I will contest as an Independent. I am firm,” said Bajgain.
The BJP has been winning the Darjeeling seat since 2009 but the MPs — Jaswant Singh, S.S. Ahluwalia and Raju Bista — have been from outside. However, Bista, a Gorkha from Manipur, has Siliguri-based in-laws.