The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) has come out with the name of a panchayat election candidate even before poll dates have been announced.

The party will give a gram panchayat ticket to Mandira Rai, wife of Satpal Rai, the personal security officer of late General Bipin Rawat who died with India’ first Chief of Defence Staff in a helicopter crash on December 8, 2021.

Amar Lama, the general secretary of the BGPM, speaking to The Telegraph said: “Yes, we gave the first ticket from our party to Mandira Rai. She will contest from Maneydara gram panchayat under Takdah block.”

Mandira garnered attention after tragedy struck her family in 2021.

Her husband Satpal was among the 13 people who had died along with General Rawat and his wife Madhulika in the Indian Air Force chopper crash in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu.

Satpal was to retire in 2024. His son Bickal is serving in the same regiment as his father 5/11 Gorkha Rifles. He also has a daughter, Muskan.

Speaking to this newspaper Mandira confirmed that BGPM president Anit Thapa had conveyed to her their decision to field her in the rural elections.

“Anit Thapa asked me to contest the election,” said Mandira.

Thapa had visited the area on Monday to lay the foundation stone of a road that passes through Satpal Rai’s house. Residents have named the road “Shaheed Satpal Rai Marg”.

Mandira said she was once active in public life.

“Earlier, I was the vice-president of the local women’s unit of our village. This was when all of them were together,” said Mandira.

She implied she was active when Anit Thapa was still with Bimal Gurung. In 2017, Anit Thapa and Binay Tamang parted ways with Gurung.

The rural polls are scheduled to be held in the hills after nearly 22 years. Political parties have started their campaign for this poll.