Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling, introduced a private member’s bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday to establish a central university in Darjeeling.

“Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong are home to some of the oldest and most renowned schools in India. Also, in recent years, Siliguri and Mirik have made significant strides in terms of school education. It is a longstanding demand of the region and if a central varsity comes up in the region, it will help in its growth as a hub of higher education in the country,” said the MP.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Bista tabled the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2022, and insisted the Centre take cognisance of the issue and announce the establishment of the varsity.

A private bill is a bill placed by an MP who doesn’t hold a ministerial post in the Centre.

The move from the MP comes at a time when less than a year is left for the general elections. In 2021, ahead of the Assembly elections, the BJP had mentioned in its manifesto that such a varsity would be established in Darjeeling.

“It is evident that the BJP MP is under pressure, especially because the Mamata Banerjee government, over these years, has announced two universities for the hills. As the elections are drawing near, he wants the Centre to make the announcement,” said a political observer.

In the hills, the state has opened the Darjeeling Hill University which would come up in Mungpoo. As of now, postgraduate courses are offered in a number of streams at the varsity.

A second campus of the Calcutta-based Presidency University is coming up in Kurseong.

On Friday's development, Trinamul leaders said it was yet another hollow promise made by the saffron party to draw votes from across the hills.

“The state government, on the other hand, has been instrumental in setting up two new universities in the hills. Also, since 2011, the chief minister has announced a number of other universities in different districts of north Bengal,” said a Trinamul leader.