2022 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election

2022 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election
← 2012 26 June 2022
All 45 seats in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
23 seats needed for a majority
Registered7.32 lakh
Turnout59.05% Increase [1]
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Anit Thapa Ajoy Edwards Binay Tamang
Party BGPM HP AITC
Leader since 2022 2021 2021
Leader's seat Kurseong Darjeeling Sadar 3 Dali-Bloomfield
Last election New party New party 0 seats
Seats won 27 8 5
Chief executive before election

vacant

 Chief executive after election

Anit Thapa
BGPM

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election will be held on 26 June 2022 to elect all 45 members of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, in West Bengal state, India.[2][3]

Background

The previous election took place in 2012 which was won by GJM.[4] In 2017, all GJM councillors resigned from their posts stating that GTA failed to fulfill their expectations and aspirations of the people.[5] Sooner Binay Tamang was appointed by the Government of West Bengal as acting chairman of the body. Later Anit Thapa was appointed as its acting chairman.

Following the municipal election all over the state, West Bengal State Election Commission announced the date of poll on 27 May 2022. GJM leader and previous chairman of GTA, Bimal Gurung started a hunger strike in demand for the postponement of the election, just after the poll date was announced.[6] BJP also supported Gurung and stated that GTA is not a permanent solution of the Gorkha issues.[7]

Schedule

The election schedule was declared by West Bengal State Election Commission on 27 May 2022.[8]

Poll event Schedule
Notification Date 27 May
Last Date for filing nomination 3 June
Scrutiny of nomination 4 June
Last Date for withdrawal of nomination 6 June
Date of poll 26 June
Date of counting of votes 29 June

Parties and alliances

The party which won the last election, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha officially didn't fielded any candidates, however its members contested from all 45 seats as independent candidates.[9] On the other hand, Trinamool Congress, the ruling party in the state confirmed that they will contest from only 10 seats.[10] BGPM broke its alliance with TMC and decided to contest from 36 seats on their own.[11][12] Newly formed Hamro Party also fielded candidates in all seats.[13]

CPI(M) fielded 12 candidates and Congress fielded 5 candidates in the polls.[14] A total of 277 candidates, including 169 independents, are contesting the GTA election. BJP and its allies - Gorkha National Liberation Front, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and All India Gorkha League decided not to contest the GTA election.[15]

Party Symbol Alliance No. of contesting candidates
Independents supported by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gurung) (GJM(G)) IND None 45
Hamro Party (HP) IND 45
Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) IND 35
Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Left Front 12
All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) AITC+ 10
Indian National Congress (INC) UPA 5
Independents (IND) None None 124

Winning candidates

Constituency Number Constituency Name Winning Candidate Winning Party Note
Darjeeling Sadar Subdivision
1 Rimbick-Lodhoma Norden Sherpa BGPM
2 Relling-Kaijalia Satish Pokhrel BGPM
3 Pul-Bijanbari-Goke Bhupendra Chettri HP Joined BGPM
4 Bloomfield-Rishihat Binoy Tamang TMC Joined Congress, expelled from Congress later[16]
5 Tukver Suraj Rai Independent
6 Lebong-Badamtam Yogendra Pradhan BGPM
7 Phoobsering-Pandam Jiten Rai HP
8 Darjeeling-I Pratim Subba HP
9 Darjeeling-II Robert Chettri HP
10 Darjeeling-III Ajoy Edwards HP
11 Darjeeling-IV Ruben Das Pradhan HP
12 Ghoom-Jorebunglow Pramoskar Blone HP Joined BGPM
13 Chongtong-Marybong-Tamsang Sandeep Chettri BGPM
14 Sukhia-Maney Bhanjyang Uday Dewan BGPM
15 Pokhriabong-Chamung Noel Bomzon BGPM
16 Nagari-Dhajia Anjul Chauhan BGPM
17 Rungbull-Dhotria Rajesh Chauhan BGPM
Kurseong Subdivision
18 Sonada-Pacheyang Anos Thapa BGPM
19 Takdah-Glenburn Sunny Tamang HP
20 Takling-Peshok Mani Kumar Rai BGPM
21 Takdah-Teesta Valley Dhendup Pakhrin BGPM
22 Mungpoo-Labdah Ratan Kumar Thapa BGPM
23 Seeyok-Gopaldhara-Okaity Dhurba Bomzon TMC
24 Mirik-Thurbo-Duptin Milesh Rai TMC
25 Soureni Arun Sigchi BGPM
26 Sukna-Panighatta Paresh Tirkey TMC
27 Tung-St. Mary's Nuri Sherpa BGPM
28 Kurseong-Deorali Shyam Sherpa BGPM
29 Kurseong-Giddapahar Anit Thapa BGPM
30 Pankhabari-Ambootia-Longview Kalpana Pradhan BGPM
31 Mahanadi-Tindharia Nowraj Chettri BGPM
32 Sittong-Latpanchar Anit Thapa BGPM
Kalimpong Subdivision
33 Chibo-Tashiding Senora Namchu BGPM
34 Homes-Bhalukhop Bikash Rai Independent Supported BGPM
35 Bong-Durpin Suman Gurung TMC
36 Dungra-Pudung Palden Tamang Independent
37 Algarah-Dalapchand Dawa Tenzi Sherpa BGPM
38 Lava-Lingsay Kumar Sharma Independent Supported BGPM
39 Rongpo-Munsong Birey Rai Independent Supported BGPM
40 Pedong Kamal Subba BGPM
41 Gidabling-Nimbong Sanchabir Subba BGPM
42 Relli-Samthar Hemant Rai BGPM
43 Gorubathan Ratan Thapa BGPM
44 Samsing-Kumai Harkaman Chettri BGPM
45 Rongo-Today-Jaldhaka Lakpa Namgyal Bhutia BGPM

Results

Political Party Seats Won Net Change in Seats Vote Share
Independent supported by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Gurung)* 2 43 Decrease
Hamro Party* 8 8 Increase
Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha* 27 27 Increase
Communist Party of India (Marxist) 0 -
All India Trinamool Congress 5 5 Increase
Indian National Congress(INC) 0 -
Independent 3 3 Increase
Total 45 100

" * " denotes parties that are contesting the election as independent candidates (not with any party symbols)

Aftermath

After the election result was out, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that Trinamool Congress had alliance with BGPM.[17] BGPM president Anit Thapa went to meet Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata after a few days.[18]

All 45 elected member took oath on 13 July. BGPM had the majority on their own as they had won 27 seats. BGPM along with its ally TMC, and other three independent members, formed the board.[19] Anit Thapa became the chief executive of GTA while Rajesh Chauhan became its chairman. Their oath taking ceremony took place on 14 July in the presence of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.[20]

References

  1. ^ "GTA polls pass off peacefully, 59% turnout recorded". 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ "West Bengal: GTA election on June 26, notification on Friday". ThePrint. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Bengal Election Commission Announces Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Poll Dates". ABP News. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ "GJM sweeps maiden GTA polls, not to give up Gorkhaland demand". 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  5. ^ Agencies (28 June 2017). "Violence in Hills: GJM burns copies of GTA Accord and Act". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Bimal Gurung to sit on indefinite hunger strike today against GTA polls, other issues". ThePrint. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  7. ^ Bangla, TV9 (25 May 2022). "Sukanta Majumdar: GTA নিয়ে কি এবার হাইকোর্টে যাচ্ছে বিজেপি? কীসের আভাস দিলেন সুকান্ত?". TV9 Bangla (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (25 May 2022). "Kolkata: Elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration on June 26, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announces protest". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ আনন্দ, ওয়েব ডেস্ক, এবিপি (5 June 2022). "জিটিএ নির্বাচনে সব আসনেই নির্দল হিসেবে মনোনয়ন গোর্খা জনমুক্তি মোর্চার". bengali.abplive.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 6 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "GTA Election 2022 : GTA নির্বাচনে তৃণমূলের বড় চমক, প্রার্থী বিনয় তামাং". Aaj Tak বাংলা (in Bengali). Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  11. ^ IANSLive. "GTA polls: Trinamool gets a jolt as Anit Thapa's BGPM walks out of alliance". IANS Live. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  12. ^ "BGPM releases election manifesto, promise to raise Gorkhaland issue". Sikkimexpress. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  13. ^ Banerjee, Amitava (3 June 2022). "GTA polls: Hamro Party to contest in all 45 seats". www.millenniumpost.in. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ^ "GTA elections: 210 of 318 candidates are Independents". The Indian Express. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Why BJP, GNLF and TMC's own ally GJM are boycotting Gorkhaland Territorial Administration polls". The Print. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Congress expels Gorkha leader Binoy Tamang for 6 years for supporting BJP's Darjeeling candidate". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  17. ^ "पश्चिम बंगाल की मुख्यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी ने कहा था कि भारतीय गोरखा प्रजातांत्रिक मोर्चा संग तृणमूल कांग्रेस का गठबंधन था". m.jagran.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. ^ "West Bengal: BGPM chief Anit Thapa meets CM Mamata Banerjee, invites her for oath-taking ceremony". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  19. ^ Dutta, Debayan (29 June 2022). "Siliguri & GTA Results: BGPM Wins Big, TMC Gains - What This Means For Bengal". TheQuint. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  20. ^ সংবাদদাতা, নিজস্ব. "GTA: জিটিএ চেয়ারম্যান হচ্ছেন অঞ্জুল, চিফ এগজিকিউটিভ অনীত, শপথ গ্রহণ বৃহস্পতিবার". www.anandabazar.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 14 July 2022.