Although the Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has not yet disclosed the name of her party candidate for Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, after primary discussion with the chief minister, the chief executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Anit Thapa today declared that the constituency will have a ‘son of the soil’ as one of the candidates.

Mr Thapa was addressing the audience during the foundation stone laying ceremony for an IT Park in Kurseong in Darjeeling today.

On the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Mr Thapa said that the Darjeeling constituency will have a ‘son of the soil’ as one of the candidates.

“In the past elections, we voted for the BJP symbol, but we did not have our candidate there. This time around, we will vote for another symbol, but the candidate will be ours,” he said, adding, “This time around, we will have to help those, who are helping in the development of the Hills.” Thapa was hinting at the Trinamul Congress, of which his BGPM is in alliance.

According to political observers, since a section of leaders in the Hills, especially, anti-BJP bloc, has been demanding a suitable candidate, who will be a son of the soil to fulfil the aspirations of the people, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) president, has planned to showcase a high profile candidate as well as a son of the soil.

Sources said, “Anit Thapa’s candidate will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Darjeeling on the Trinamul Congress ticket.”

Notably, the TMC had fielded former Indian Football captain Bhaichung Bhutia from Sikkim in 2014 and then Amar Singh Rai in 2019. But the BJP bagged the Darjeeling LS seat in association with the Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung and other political parties in the Hills and even the plains.

According to TMC sources, present political scenario is being changed after BJPM has come to power in the GTA and then captured civic bodies including almost all two-tire panchayet bodies in the Hills.

“Anit Thapa will work for the Trinamul Congress if things go in right direction,” a former TMC leader, who recently joined hands with Anit Thapa, said.

Notably, the GTA chief executive Thapa on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for an IT Park in Kurseong in Darjeeling and started campaigning for the forthcoming LS polls.

Once completed, the Information Technology Park near the Kurseong Polytechnic on Love Road will be the first such facility for the Hill town of Kurseong, locals claimed.

Notably, the park will be built in the existing four-storey structure that had been erected by the former GTA chief Bimal Gurung around 12 years ago for a car park for the town.

According to officials, the IT Park will have 30 plug and play modules, 30 non-plug and play modules, a rooftop futsal arena, badminton court, rooftop theatre and open air food and beverage area.

Mr Thapa said, “From the 1986 Gorkhaland agitation, we in the Hills have gone only backwards. Had these kinds of IT Parks been built long back, our youths would not have to go outside in search of jobs. We must now run faster, or else we will not be able to catch up with other districts.”