Anit Thapa, the chief of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) on Thursday said that the “trend” of winning elections on “sentiments” had come to an end in the hills; a day after his party won the crucial Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha polls.

“The hills have started voting based on your work.... the trend of voting on sentiments has come to an end. We must continue with this trend,” Thapa told journalists while participating in a victory rally.

A car rally was held from Kurseong to Darjeeling after which Thapa led a procession from the railway station to Chowrasta where he was seen dancing with his supporters.

Hill politics has largely been centred on the “identity issue” with the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland being a focal point.

The formula of raising sentimental issues during elections reaped rich dividends for political parties in the past.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha fought the 2017 civic elections on the “Gorkhaland versus Bengal” plank.

Thap, however, believes politics of development can now reap benefits in the hills.

Since 2017, Thapa lost four successive elections — from the 2019 Lok Sabha and Darjeeling Assembly bypoll, Bengal Assembly elections in 2021 and Darjeeling civic elections in 2022.

On his fifth attempt, Thapa won the GTA polls. His party won 27 out of 45seats.

The party in control of the hill body has an edge in controlling the politics of the hills.

Thapa did raise the Gorkhaland demand, but the tone has not been shrill.

The BGPM leader said that on assuming charge of the GTA, the body’s Sabha would pass a resolution to open a dialogue on Gorkhaland.

“We won’t fight against the state government staying in Bengal. The state government can’t create another state. It is the Centre which can create a new state,” said Thapa.

He said his focus was on developmental issues and they would seek for votes in elections on development work.

Many observers in the hills wondered if Thapa’s brand of politics would see him through in all elections.

“Identity still is a major issue in the hills,” said a hill observer.

“I feel we have not won the hearts of the people of Darjeeling town. I think Darjeeling town has not yet accepted Anit Thapa’s vision. However, we will win their hearts through development work,” said Thapa.

The statement comes at a time when BGPM lost most of the constituencies within Darjeeling municipality area.

The Hamro Party, which won the Darjeeling civic election a few months back, repeated their performance by winning six constituencies within the Darjeeling civic area.