Darjeeling, as soon as often called the ‘Queen of Hills’ is without doubt one of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. Darjeeling has been the epicentre of the Gorkhaland Motion giving it a definite political character. The constituency has seven meeting segments with three within the hills and 4 within the plains. These are – Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Kurseong, Matigara-Naxalbari, Siliguri, Phansidewa and Chopra. Voting for Lok Sabha polls in Darjeeling will happen within the second part on April 19. The counting of votes will happen on June 4.
2019 End result and 2024 Candidates
Raju Bista of the BJP had gained the Darjeeling Lok Sabha election in 2019 with 750,067 votes.
In Lok Sabha polls 2024, whereas the BJP has fielded the incumbent Bista, the TMC has nominated Gopal Lama from the seat.
Key Information Concerning the Darjeeling Constituency
- The Congress and CPM dominated the constituency till the Eighties.
- The Gorkhaland motion within the Eighties led to the rise of regional events like GNLF, influencing voting patterns primarily based on the “identification difficulty” of Gorkhas.
- Since 2009, the BJP has secured three consecutive wins, primarily because of the help of Bimal Gurung, chief of a GJM faction.
- The demand for Gorkhaland has been probably the most vital issue, shaping alliances and swaying voters in the direction of events perceived to be supportive of their trigger.
- Splits and alliances inside GJM and different hill events considerably impression voting patterns.
- The ‘Son of the soil’ narrative has gained traction, with voters favoring native candidates over “outsiders.”
Key Constituency Points
From Gorkhaland to tea employees’ calls for, these are the important thing problems with the Darjeeling constituency.
Gorkhaland
For many years, the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland has been a significant political concern within the Darjeeling hills. In 2017, tensions flared with a violent 100-day agitation that tragically claimed 11 lives. Since 2009, the BJP has secured the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat with help from the hills, promising a everlasting resolution to the area’s points. Nevertheless, concrete actions in the direction of fulfilling this promise haven’t materialized. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the present ruling celebration in West Bengal, strongly opposes the division of the state and the creation of Gorkhaland.
Water Scarcity
The city of Darjeeling wants 19.7 million gallons (almost 90 million litre) of water day by day. Nevertheless, the municipality can solely provide 6.38 million gallons (round 29 million litre). This scarcity is partly brought on by leaking pipes, losing about 25% of the handled water. The prevailing water infrastructure, constructed round 1910-15 for 15,000 folks, is inadequate for the present inhabitants. The scenario has worsened just lately as a result of a big drop in water ranges at pure springs brought on by widespread unlawful logging within the surrounding space.
Land Slides and Soil Erosion
Completely different blocks expertise various intensities of landslides, with Kurseong, components of Bijanbari, and Gorubathan being extremely vulnerable. Unregulated quarrying actions in Lish and Gish basin, and Tindharia area have disrupted slope stability and contributes to extreme siltation in rivers and adjoining plains, disrupting the ecological stability.
Coal mining and stone quarrying actions, notably quarrying underneath roads, have weakened the slopes and enhance the chance of landslides. A latest incident close to Giddapahar is suspected to be brought on by such exercise.
One other key offender is the cultivation of root crops like potato and ginger. Harvesting these crops through the monsoon season (September-October) loosens the soil, making it extra liable to erosion and landslides. Heavy automobile motion on hill roads additionally destabilizes slopes, resulting in frequent landslides, particularly through the wet season.
Tea Staff’ Points:
Minimal wages and closure of tea gardens are additionally very critical points within the constituency. Underdevelopment and the colonial hangover in some way nonetheless exists within the guidelines of the state. Lives of the folks dwelling on tea estates is hard.
Air pollution
Regardless of its geographical, climatic, and ecological significance, Darjeeling has remained neglected by coverage makers relating to combatting air pollution. A research printed in 2024 raises considerations that Darjeeling might quickly turn into a non-attainment metropolis, emphasizing the need for Central and State air pollution management boards to determine strong and steady monitoring stations for air pollution in such areas. The growing air pollution will have an effect on the tourism within the constituency which can then have a devastating impact on different components resembling employment, inflation, and many others.
Infrastructure
Ministry of Well being has allotted round Rs 222.66 crores for enhancing well being infrastructure within the Darjeeling area, together with the institution of a Crucial Care Hospital Block by means of the PM-ABHIM scheme. Raju Bista, the present MP, has promised to transform current hospitals into medical faculties.
Below the PM Awas Gramin scheme, the Central authorities has already constructed a number of thousand homes within the area.
Building of Freeway 717A, which can function a substitute for NH10, linking Sikkim to the remainder of India, has been initiated. Moreover, the Border Roads Group (BRO) has accomplished an alternate freeway connecting Alagar in Kalimpong to Damdim in Dooars. Progress is underway for the Sevoke-Rangpo rail line venture, costing Rs 8000 crores, which can combine Sikkim into the nationwide railway community. This can be essential for Siliguri too.
Moreover, Bagdogra Airport is present process renovations value Rs 1800 crores, together with the development of latest terminals and trendy facilities, to reinforce its performance as the only real civilian airport in North Bengal.
Who Stands The place
The BJP faces challenges as a result of discontent amongst some Gorkha teams relating to their perceived lack of success of guarantees. The celebration has additionally confronted losses in native elections (Siliguri, Darjeeling Municipality) and the defection of Bimal Gurung.
The TMC is attempting to capitalise on BJP’s weaknesses by supporting Anit Thapa’s BGPM, which enjoys affect within the hills. It is usually attempting to trip on the “son of the soil” sentiment.
The INDI alliance has restricted presence within the area.
The end result might hinge on how successfully events tackle the Gorkha identification difficulty and native considerations.
Voter Demographics
The whole variety of voters (as of 2019 election) in Darjeeling are 1,600,564, of which, round 50.7% in are males whereas 49.3% are females. A really small variety of voters establish because the third gender (21 in 2019).
The constituency has a literacy fee of 68.14%. There are about 16.8% (roughly 268,895 voters) Scheduled Caste voters, 19.4% STs and 14.4% Muslim voters.
Rural voters make for about 66.2% (roughly 1,059,573 voters) of the entire voters whereas 33.8% are city voters.
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