SILGURI: The BJP's win at Darjeeling is a huge blow to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and a tremendous fillip to Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung, who with an NDA government now at Centre will be strong enough once again to fight Mamata at the regional level.
Star Candidate like football king Baichung Bhutiya, combined with overwhelming pro TMC wave in the state could not save TMC in Darjeeling where BJP's win is actually a victory of GJM, the party spearheading separate statehood movement for Darjeeling hills.
Out of 14 lakh total votes, lion's share of 6.11 lakh votes from hilly portion of the constituency have gone in favour of BJP due to support of GJM that is the largest political force in hills. The final tally showed a winning margin of 1,97,239, more than double of what even BJP could expect.
It was a do or die situation for Bimal Gurung after split in his party's friendship with ruling party of the state, Trinamool Congress and its supremo, state CM Miss Mamata Banerjee. But reenergized with the hilarious victory now with its new chemistry with BJP, Gurung said, "Now we will start our separate statehood movement afresh."
Giving it an indirect support, BJP vice president and BJP's winning candidate from Darjeeling Mr. S S Ahluwalia also told ET, "I am happy that people of Darjeeling has blessed BJP. Now we will definitely give serious consideration to the aspiration of the hills."
Definitely this is a worry for the state CM. During the days of her friendship with GJM, she enjoyed many electoral benefits and in return, persuaded in favour of many demands of GJM including new administrative body for Darjeeling, special financial packages etc. Against that, "We have cooled down Darjeeling and brought back smile there," remained her favorite claim in all public speeches.
But now, a new spell of movement, in one side will put the hills under uncertainty. On the other side, this will prove that the CM's claim of restoration of permanent peace in hills was too far from reality.
Star Candidate like football king Baichung Bhutiya, combined with overwhelming pro TMC wave in the state could not save TMC in Darjeeling where BJP's win is actually a victory of GJM, the party spearheading separate statehood movement for Darjeeling hills.
Out of 14 lakh total votes, lion's share of 6.11 lakh votes from hilly portion of the constituency have gone in favour of BJP due to support of GJM that is the largest political force in hills. The final tally showed a winning margin of 1,97,239, more than double of what even BJP could expect.
It was a do or die situation for Bimal Gurung after split in his party's friendship with ruling party of the state, Trinamool Congress and its supremo, state CM Miss Mamata Banerjee. But reenergized with the hilarious victory now with its new chemistry with BJP, Gurung said, "Now we will start our separate statehood movement afresh."
Giving it an indirect support, BJP vice president and BJP's winning candidate from Darjeeling Mr. S S Ahluwalia also told ET, "I am happy that people of Darjeeling has blessed BJP. Now we will definitely give serious consideration to the aspiration of the hills."
Definitely this is a worry for the state CM. During the days of her friendship with GJM, she enjoyed many electoral benefits and in return, persuaded in favour of many demands of GJM including new administrative body for Darjeeling, special financial packages etc. Against that, "We have cooled down Darjeeling and brought back smile there," remained her favorite claim in all public speeches.
But now, a new spell of movement, in one side will put the hills under uncertainty. On the other side, this will prove that the CM's claim of restoration of permanent peace in hills was too far from reality.
ET Bureau