Independent candidates who won the panchayat elections have started jumping ship in the Darjeeling hills.

Until Friday evening, five Independent winners joined the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), which rules the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.

Most of those Independents said they wanted to “develop” their respective villages and hence, they had switched to the BGPM.

On Friday morning, Independent winners Mohan Kumar Pradhan and Ambika Dewan met BGPM president Anit Thapa at his residence in Kurseong to offer their support. “I was with the party until a month back. I was seeking a party ticket but when I was denied, I decided to contest as an Independent,” said Mohan. He said the people had voted for him wanting to “see him as the gram panchayat pradhan”.

Thapa announced that Mohan would be made the pradhan of Shiv Khola gram panchayat in Kurseong.

Dewan said she, too, had been a BGPM member until she was denied a ticket.

Similarly, the BGPM will form the board at Chungthung gram panchayat in the Darjeeling subdivision.

Sandip Chhetri, the elected GTA Sabha member from the area and a BGPM leader, announced that Independent winner Binod Subba had joined the party. Until Subba’s switch, the Chungthung gram panchayat had four BGPM members, four Independents and two BJP winners.

Another switchover took place in Teesta gram panchayat with Arjun Chhetri joining the BGPM.

“We have not hoodwinked our voters. Even while campaigning during elections, we were clear about our affiliation. How can we develop our place by remaining Independents?” said Arjun.

Until the switchover, the Teesta gram panchayat had four BGPM members, four Independents and one BJP member.

In the Gorubathan panchayat samiti, where the BGPM has not been able to form the board, Independent winner Devraj Subba joined the BGPM.

However, the BGPM still needs the support of one more member to form the panchayat samiti in Gorubathan. While nine BGPM candidates won from Gorubathan, 12 Independents and one BJP member were also elected.

Until this switchover, the BGPM had won 38 of 70 gram panchayats and four five panchayat samitis in Darjeeling district. In Kalimpong district, the party had won 30 of 42 gram panchayats and two of four panchayat samitis.

“Many people who did not like the political parties had trusted the Independents this time around. However, some are turning their back on their voters within days of the election,” said an observer.

BGPM leaders said that many Independents had been their cadres and it was just about returning back home.