The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has decided to celebrate its foundation day at Mirik this year, aiming to infuse new enthusiasm among its cadres at a time the party is being pushed on the backfoot on various issues.

“This year we have decided to celebrate our fourth foundation day at Mirik. I invite everyone to this function (on September 9),” said Anit Thapa, president of the BGPM and the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

The BGPM, which controls the GTA, the panchayat and the civic bodies across Darjeeling hills, is under pressure from different quarters on the GTA's performance.

Both political and apolitical groups have criticised the GTA for failing to properly rehabilitate victims of the glacial lake outburst flood in October last year.

According to official data, 483 houses were fully damaged and 76 partially damaged in the flood.

The state government had promised ₹25 crore but the GTA has not yet received the money. The hill body instead has approached the NHPC, which has two dams on the Bengal side of the Teesta, seeking a compensation of ₹12.5 crore.

“Apart from the Teesta issue, the recent decision of the administration to put up boards on government land has also not gone down well with the public,” said a political analyst.

Land is a sensitive issue in the hills where there is overwhelming support for the Gorkhaland state. The state’s decision to put up boards stating that the land belongs to the government of Bengal was not well received in the hills.

Thapa immediately held meetings with the administration following which the boards were removed. “However, the initial damage has already been done,” said an analyst.

The BGPM leadership is looking at keeping its flock together at a time various groups in the hills have started the groundwork for floating a new political party to take on the BGPM.

“There will be challenges before us but I have been repeatedly telling our leaders that we must never lose focus and continue with our work. We should not be bothered too much by criticism from the Opposition forces,” said Thapa.

Elections to Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik municipalities are due and the party is looking to strengthen its party base.

Despite being in power, the BGPM lost to the BJP in the hills during the recently held Lok Sabha elections. “The BGPM is still the predominant force in the hills but it definitely cannot take things for granted as a strong narrative is being developed against the party in recent months,” said an observer.