Darjeeling Gymkhana Club, set up in 1909, will go to polls on Friday with a political whiff in the last leg of the campaign.

The club has 500-odd members, half of whom stay outside Darjeeling, mostly in Calcutta.

“The election to the 14-member executive committee was largely free of political interference during the last election, after years of political interference. The same can’t be said this year,” said a member.

Last Sunday, Anit Thapa, president of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha and chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration stressed the need to keep the club free of politics.

“I am also a member of the Darjeeling Gymkhana Club. It would be in the interest of the club to keep it apolitical. I request leaders of the BGPM who have filed their nomination to withdraw their candidature,” said Thapa.

Some members, however, saw politics in his speech. “Ajoy Edwards, Thapa’s main rival in Darjeeling politics, is in the fray,” said an observer.

Edwards was elected in the last club elections, too. “Thapa, not in the fray in the club polls, is probably trying to hit back on Edwards with his no-politics statement. Some members close to Thapa’s party met in Darjeeling on Tuesday and decided not to vote for Edwards,” a source said.

Jamling Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, an Everester and the current chairman of the club, is seen as an apolitical person. The president of the club is the governor of Bengal.

“This year, 31 candidates have filed their nomination for the 14 executive committee seats. The last day of withdrawal of candidature is Wednesday,” said a source.

“Direct political interference entered the club from 2008. Political influence was used to take control of club assets. Elections to the club were deferred in 2008 and in 2016 because of direct interference of a political leader,” said a member of the club, hinting at Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung.

Many members, however, said positive changes were being witnessed in the club over the past couple of years. “When this new committee was formed two years back, the club was in a deficit of Rs 55 lakh. Today, we have a surplus fund of Rs 50 lakh despite a complete overhaul of the club and creation of new assets like three synthetic tennis turfs among others,” said Pintoo Agarwal, secretary, Darjeeling Gymkhana Club.