Monday, Mar 16, 2026 10:15 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Mar 15, 2026 17:10 [IST]
DARJEELING, : As the schedule for the West Bengal Assembly polls was announced on
Sunday, the BharatiyaGorkhaPrajatantrikMorcha (BGPM) officially unveiled the
names of its three candidates for the hill constituencies.
In
a press release from BGPM chief AnitThapa, RudenSada Lepcha was named as the
candidate for the Kalimpong constituency, Bijoy Kumar Rai for the Darjeeling
constituency, and Amar Lama for the Kurseong constituency. The release stated
that the candidates were chosen “to strengthen the voice of regionalism.”
Although
the names had been circulating in the hills for some time, with the candidates
actively campaigning in their respective areas, the official announcement was
made only on Sunday.
Bijoy
Kumar Rai is the current chairman of the School Service Commission (Hills),
while Amar Lama serves as the party’s general secretary, and RudenSada Lepcha
is the sitting MLA of Kalimpong. Lama and Lepcha are both seasoned political
leaders, while Rai, primarily known for his literary contributions, has
recently become active in politics.
Rai
is a noted writer and former headmaster of the Darjeeling Government High
School and has also served as president of the District School Board. Lama is a
former councillor of Darjeeling Municipality, while Lepcha was the lone BGPM
MLA to secure the Kalimpong seat in the 2021 polls. In that election, the BJP
had won both the Darjeeling and Kurseong seats.
Other
political parties in the hills have yet to announce their candidates for the
upcoming elections. The last date for filing nominations is April 6, while
polling is scheduled on April 23 in the first phase of the two-phased West
Bengal elections.
Darjeeling
region has been listed in the first phase. The second phase of voting takes
place on April 29 in other areas of West Bengal, with the counting of votes on
May 4.
The
Election Commission of India has announced that the West Bengal Assembly
elections will cover all 294 seats. This year, the elections are being held in
two phases, a streamlined approach compared to eight phases in 2021, aimed at
ensuring efficient management and security during polling.
