Just 48 hours ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday stirred a major political debate in the Hills, announcing a firm timeline to resolve the long-pending Gorkha issue while launching sharp attacks on the state government over the voter list revision process.
Addressing a high-voltage rally in Kurseong, Shah declared that by May 6, the BJP would present a “permanent political solution” to the Gorkha question — one that, he said, would align with the aspirations of the local community. “I give you my word — once the BJP forms the government, the Gorkha issue — pending for decades — will be resolved in a way that brings satisfaction to every Gorkha,” he asserted.
The Union Home Minister also levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Claiming irregularities in the process, Shah alleged that names of several Gorkha voters were being deliberately removed. “Mamata Banerjee’s machinery has conspired to strike off the names of many Gorkhas from the voter list. But this attempt will fail. After the elections, we will ensure that every genuine voter is reinstated,” he said.
Expanding his attack, Shah accused successive governments led by the Congress, Left parties, and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of neglecting and marginalising the Gorkha community. “The Gorkhas have a proud and historic legacy. For decades, they have been denied justice by Congress, CPM, and now the Trinamool. The time has come to end this injustice,” he stated, positioning the BJP as the only party capable of delivering a lasting solution.
Highlighting changing electoral dynamics, Shah noted that while the Darjeeling Hills have consistently supported the BJP in recent elections, the party is now witnessing broader support across the state. “Earlier, the Hills stood with us, but the rest of Bengal did not. This time, the entire state is ready for change,” he claimed, adding that a “strong wave” against the ruling dispensation is sweeping across West Bengal.
Shah’s announcement of a May 6 deadline has injected fresh momentum into the political discourse in North Bengal, particularly in the Hills where demands for Gorkhaland continue to remain a contentious issue. Regional parties, including factions of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), have long maintained their stance on a separate state.
As campaigning enters its final stretch before polling begins, the BJP’s aggressive outreach in the Hills signals its intent to consolidate support from the Terai-Dooars region to Darjeeling. With voters preparing to head to the polls, Shah’s assurances — and the
controversies surrounding them — are expected to play a crucial role in shaping electoral outcomes in the region.
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