BJP’s future bright in Sikkim: Thapa

GANGTOK,: State BJP president DR Thapa on Tuesday expressed confidence that the party’s prospects in Sikkim are “very promising,” while stressing the need to strengthen grassroots outreach to expand its support base.

Speaking to the media in the backdrop of the BJP’s landslide electoral victories in Assam and neighbouring West Bengal, Thapa said the party now needs to effectively take its policies and programmes to rural areas in Sikkim.

“The future of the BJP in Sikkim is very bright in the coming days. That is why we have remained with the party for the past seven years. I am confident that the BJP’s future here is excellent,” he said.

Responding to a question, Thapa acknowledged that the party has yet to achieve the desired level of public acceptance in the State. He said this is largely due to limited outreach at the village level.

“We are trying to secure mass acceptance by taking BJP policies and programmes to the villages. We have not been able to do this effectively so far, but the day we succeed in reaching the grassroots, the party’s future in Sikkim will shine,” said the State BJP president.

On concerns regarding Sikkim’s special Constitutional provisions under Article 371F, Thapa said several Northeastern States also enjoy similar safeguards despite having BJP governments.

“We have BJP governments across the Northeast. These States also have special protection provisions, and there has been no violation. The BJP strongly protects Article 371F,” he said.

Thapa also expressed the State unit’s jubilation over the party’s electoral success in West Bengal, congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior leaders, and party workers. This victory reflects the faith and trust the people of West Bengal have placed in the Prime Minister and the BJP, he said.

Alleging that people in West Bengal had suffered under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for 15 years, Thapa claimed that several Central schemes were not implemented in the State.

“People of Bengal were deprived of over 100 Central schemes. This time, they voted strongly for the BJP believing that their upliftment and a ‘Sunaulo Bengal’ would be possible only under the party,” he said.

Thapa further stated that Sikkim stands to benefit from a BJP government in West Bengal in multiple ways. Drivers from Sikkim will not face harassment, and essential goods will reach the State smoothly without disturbances, he said, adding that the flow of drugs into Sikkim from across the border by “outsiders settled in West Bengal” would also be curbed.