Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista has asked hill Opposition candidates who won the panchayat elections to submit to him project proposals within 15 days and he will get them approved for the legislator's local area development funds.

Bista’s statement, which seems to be an attempt by him to keep the winners of the United Gorkha Alliance together, drew flak from the ruling Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) which accused the MP of misguiding elected rural representatives.

Addressing the BJP winners at Teesta in Kalimpong on Wednesday evening, Bista said: “I ask all of you, those candidates who have won gram panchayat seats to draw up a project of Rs 5 lakh and panchayat samiti winners to draw up a project of Rs 15 lakh and submit the same to my office within 15 days.”

Bista said he would get the projects approved under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS).

Many in the hills believe Bista was probably trying to ensure that his party’s elected candidates were not lured to other camps. The BJP and other hill parties had formed the Gorkha National Alliance to take on the BGPM and the Trinamul Congress in the panchayat elections. The BGPM and Trinamul had an understanding for the polls.

The BJP has won 88 gram panchayat seats and 26 panchayat samiti seats in the Darjeeling hills.

Bista is so far entitled to Rs 17 crore under the MPLADS. The Centre has released Rs 7 crore, while the unspent amount is Rs 4.17 crore.

The BGPM spokesman and the public relation officer of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), S.P. Sharma, organised a press conference in Darjeeling on Thursday and alleged that Bista was trying to mislead his own party's elected representatives.

"There are proper rules and procedures for the use of MPLADS funds. Projects are approved by nodal officers at district levels... many of his projects have not been approved. It is a fact that his funds have to be approved at the district level,” said Sharma.

However, the BGPM leader did not give a direct answer when he was asked if Bista’s announcement could be to pre-empt horse trading as Sharma’s party was accused of indulging in such practices in the past. Instead, Sharma said: “He is an MP whose duty is to develop his entire constituency and not to ask for party-specific projects.”

The BGPM has won 349 of 598 gram panchayat seats and six of nine panchayat samitis.