Authorities have decided to seal the Indo-Nepal border adjoining Darjeeling until Friday considering the upcoming Second Phase of the General Elections in West Bengal.
This measure, aimed at ensuring security in the sensitive region during the electoral process, will be in effect from 6 pm on April 23rd to April 26th.
Darjeeling District Magistrate, Preeti Goyal issued an order stating, "...for smooth conduct of Election, all the International border (land) routes (Entry and Exit) need to be sealed and movement of both people and vehicle be restricted from 6.00 PM on P-3 day on 23 April 2024 till completion of poll."
Visuals from Pashupatinagar reveal a noticeable decrease in crowds and traffic, impacting business activities in the bordering village.
Residents and traders expressed their concerns, highlighting the economic repercussions of the border closure.
One shopkeeper lamented, "No one is allowed to go to the other side. If anyone wants to come, their voter card is checked. We are completely dependent on business. So we are suffering losses in these three days."
Darjeeling, historically a stronghold for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is set to cast its votes on Friday in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The constituency, encompassing a narrow strip of land known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck,’ serves as a crucial link between the Northeast and the rest of the country.
Sitting MP Raju Bista represents the BJP in Darjeeling, while the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has nominated Gopal Lama as its candidate for the upcoming polls.
West Bengal, with its 42 parliamentary constituencies, is witnessing elections across all seven phases. The opening phase saw Coochbehar, Alipurduar, and Jalpaiguri go to the polls. Vote counting is scheduled for June 4th.
Despite being part of the INDIA bloc, the TMC has not engaged in seat-sharing arrangements with other alliance parties like the Congress and the Left in the state.
In the 2019 elections, the BJP made significant gains, securing 18 seats compared to its previous tally of 2 in 2014, challenging the TMC's dominance.
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