Hills poll: Gorkhaland dreams vie with infra & job concerns

Darjeeling: Faded posters demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland still linger on the moss-covered walls of Darjeeling — a quiet reminder of a movement that once singularly defined the politics in the hills. But as the region heads to polls on Thursday, the dominant narrative has given way to a more layered and fragmented contest, where development, governance and corruption-free administration are steadily reshaping voter priorities. With this shift, Darjeeling is also witnessing a conscious push to mobilise non-Nepali, Hindi-speaking voters, marking a transition in a constituency long defined by ethnic identity politics.The Darjeeling constituency, along with neighbouring Kurseong and Kalimpong, is seeing a multi-cornered contest. For decades, politics in the hills revolved almost entirely around the Gorkhaland movement. Parties rose and fell based on their ability to champion the cause. The GNLF dominated the landscape through the late 1980s and the 1990s under Subash Ghisingh, before the emergence of the Bimal Gurung-led GJM in 2007.While regional parties held sway in assembly segments, the BJP expanded its influence by backing the Gorkhaland cause. This strategy established a stronghold in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, which the BJP has held since 2009. However, the political landscape underwent a major churn following the 2017 Gorkhaland agitation — a 100-day shutdown that paralysed life.In its aftermath, the once-dominant GJM split into factions, weakening its organisational grip. The emergence of the BGPM under Anit Thapa, and its alignment with Trinamool Congress, further altered political equations. "Earlier, everything was about Gorkhaland. Now, people are asking about roads, jobs and stability," says Rakesh Yadav, a local trader. Hari Prasad, a voter from Kurseong, added: "Peace matters now. We don't want shutdowns again. Whoever ensures stability will get support."The 2021 assembly elections reflected this transition. The BJP, allied with GJM factions, retained a strong foothold, while the BGPM, backed by Trinamool, made significant gains and eventually took over the GTA.Adding a fresh dimension to the contest is a new entrant: the Hamro Party, led by entrepreneur Ajay Edwards. Edwards, owner of the iconic Glenary's, has centred his campaign on corruption and systemic reform.Across Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, electoral discourse now reflects a mix of competing priorities: infrastructure gaps, unemployment, traffic congestion and environmental concerns. "It's not that people have forgotten Gorkhaland, but everyday issues are now equally important," says Sudesh Pradhan, a resident of Darjeeling.Yet, the statehood question continues to linger beneath the surface. "We are contesting on the BJP symbol, but our core commitment remains Gorkhaland," says Noman Rai, the GJM-BJP candidate from Darjeeling. GJM chief Bimal Gurung has thrown his weight behind Rai. "I will quit politics if my candidate loses," Gurung stated.