Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha president Anit Thapa on Wednesday exuded confidence that his party would secure a majority in all panchayat samitis in the Darjeeling hills at a time when there was a backlash against Independent winners joining the BGPM.

Thapa, who was in Kalimpong on Wednesday to felicitate BGPM candidates who had won the recent rural elections, said: “We will form boards at all nine panchayat samitis in the hills.”

The BGPM secured a majority in six of nine panchayat samitis in the hills. The United Gorkha Alliance has a majority in one panchayat samiti, while two others were hung with Independents winning most seats.

However, post-election results, many Independents are jumping ships in the hills, which is drawing flak from various quarters, including apolitical outfits.

Thapa, however, defended the Independents’ induction into the BGPM on two counts.

“Most of the Independents are from our party. There was infighting over party tickets and this is something which is common to all parties during elections. Now, they are slowly coming back to their party,” said Thapa.

The BGPM president, who is also the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, said it was a “dharma” of all political parties to try to be in power.

“We are a political party and it is our dharma to try to be in power wherever we can. This is something every political party tries,” said Thapa.

Touching on allegations that the BGPM was trying to lure the Independents, Thapa said those were mere “narratives” created by Opposition parties.

“These are narratives created by the Opposition. Even Raju Bista (Darjeeling BJP MP) is promising Rs 5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh. What is this (the promise)?” asked the BGPM chief.

Bista had recently asked hill Opposition candidates who had won the panchayat elections to submit to him project proposals within 15 days and he would get the same approved for the legislator’s local area development funds.

Many in the hills believe Bista was probably trying to ensure that his party’s elected candidates were not lured to other camps.

Bista is so far entitled to Rs 17 crore under the MPLADS.

The Centre has released Rs 7 crore.