Anit Thapa, president of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) and chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), has directed party leaders and cadres to hoist the party’s flag on their rooftops in the run-up to the party’s foundation day celebrations on September 9.

The directive comes at a time the Opposition forces are realigning in the hills and looking to step up the Gorkhaland demand.

Sources said Thapa had directed party leaders and cadres to start hoisting the BGPM’s flag from Sunday. While some leaders posted a “selfie” with the new flag, others posted videos of elaborate rituals they undertook to hoist the flag.

Yogendra Pradhan, BGPM president of Lebong–Badamtam constituency and an elected GTA Sabha member released a video where he is seen performing a puja before replacing the old party flag with a new one.

A Darjeeling municipality councillor, who had switched sides after winning as a Hamro Party candidate, was seen displaying the BGPM flag in front of his house.

Observers pointed out that Thapa’s directive coincided with the Opposition holding a series of meetings to form a new bloc to take on the BGPM.

“In Darjeeling and also in Sikkim there has been a practice to direct people to hoist party flags not just to consolidate their bases but also to send a psychological message to the Opposition group that the people of a particular area are with one party,” said an observer.

Old-timers said such a directive often puts the people under stress. The BGPM, however, has issued the directive only to its leaders and cadres.

“This comes in the run-up to the party’s fourth foundation day that is being organised on September 9 at Mirik,” said a source.

In Mirik, BGPM leader and GTA Sabha member Arun Sigchi held a meeting with party supporters in Soureni. “Our supporters from Soureni have said they would attend the foundation day with their families,” said Sigchi.

The BGPM is under pressure for failing to raise identity-based issues in the hills. In Darjeeling, the groundwork for a new political bloc to push forward the Gorkhaland state demand has started with prominent leaders holding meetings in Kalimpong and Kurseong on Thursday and Friday. Ajoy Edwards, president of the Hamro Party and an elected GTA Sabha member, is being projected as the leader of this bloc.