Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) president Anit Thapa on Monday said he had heard that party leaders were involved in illegal property dealings and warned he would expel them if evidence of the corruption emerged.

“I am hearing that leaders of our party are entering disputed properties, threatening people, seeking money and targeting members of the minority community,” Thapa said while laying the foundation of a market being constructed by Darjeeling municipality in town.

Thapa is also the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The BGPM runs the Darjeeling civic body.

“If anyone is involved in such activities, I will expel them from the party,” added Thapa who asked residents to directly approach him if they faced problems from BGPM cadres.

The BGPM had dislodged the Bimal Gurung-lead Gorkha Janmukti Morcha from power in the Darjeeling hills.

“Our party has come to replace such activities.... How can we eye somebody else's property?…. If anyone faces any issues, whether it is about private property or disputed properties, I request them to contact me directly,” said Thapa. “I will directly look into such complaints.”

The GTA chief executive requested the Darjeeling municipality to ensure transparency while allocating space at the new market.

“There should be a clear bidding process (in the allocation of space). Even our party leaders and councillors can bid for the space but nothing should be done on the sly,” he added.

The municipality is planning to construct three new markets by dismantling British-era structures.

Thapa himself said shops at markets used to be allocated to workers, leaders and councillors of the party in the past.

In April 2023, Bimal Gurung had alleged that the BGPM-run civic board was seeking more than ₹1 lakh for a water connection, instead of the official rate of ₹17,500. Dipendra Thakuri, the civic chairman, had denied the allegation then.

Thapa on Monday urged BGPM leaders to “think for Darjeeling” as "there is no limit to the wants of a human being" and added that things were not easy now.

“The politics of yesteryear were easy. We would all go out for rallies and shout slogans. We would get votes if we just said 'Gorkhaland',” added Thapa.

The BGPM stressed that the people of Darjeeling must take it upon themselves to improve the place. “We have the habit of blaming either Bengal or the Centre for all their woes even if they are not involved... we talk about traffic jams but we have encroached on highways ourselves to build buildings,” said Thapa.