The tremors of the Trinamool sweep of the Assembly bypolls in the plains of Bengal are being felt by the BJP camp in the hills.

The two BJP MLAs from the hills, Neeraj Zimba from Darjeeling and B.P. Sharma (Bajgain) from Kurseong, minced no words to caution the party to introspect over its failed promises to the Darjeeling hills following the bypoll results where the BJP lost all six Assembly seats.

Neeraj Zimba, Darjeeling BJP MLA, who is also a leader of its ally Gorkha National Liberation Front, issued a written statement with a “a clarion call for introspection, recalibration, and rededication to the promises made to the people, particularly the proud and resilient Gorkhas of North Bengal.”

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto the BJP had promised tribal status to 11 hill communities and a permanent political solution (PPS), which many in Darjeeling perceive to be Gorkhaland state.

The twin promises have not yet been fulfilled.

"For years, the people of the Hills have stood by the BJP, driven by the hope that the party would deliver on its Sankalp Patra (manifesto) commitments, particularly the much-anticipated Permanent Political Solution and the granting of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the left-out Gorkha sub-tribes.....,” wrote Zimba, adding “the patience of the Gorkha people is not infinite."

BJP MLA from Kurseong B.P. Bajgain added: "The BJP runs a membership drive in Bengal over the phone from a Calcutta office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party.... It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centres its politics solely around religion."

In a surprise move, the BJP legislator highlighted the TMC’s “pro-poor schemes.”

"The TMC stood with the people, armed with 26 different pro-poor schemes such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme and others.... while quietly working at the grassroots level,” said Bajgain.