SINGTAM, OCT 5: Newly appointed BJP Sikkim in-charge and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has made it clear that the party will respect Sikkim’s special constitutional status and maintain a clear distinction between the political affairs of Sikkim and Darjeeling.
Addressing BJP workers at an organisational meeting in Singtam on Monday, Bista said Article 371F of the Constitution is a permanent provision and assured that the BJP would continue to respect and uphold the safeguards provided to Sikkim under it.
“Sikkim and Darjeeling share a history, but their present and future are different. We will stand side by side and support each other, but we will not infringe upon each other’s political space,” Bista said.
His remarks are significant as political discussions in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills continue around the demand for a Permanent Political Solution (PPS). Bista has previously clarified that the PPS being pursued for Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Terai and Dooars is separate from Sikkim and has no bearing on the Himalayan state.
Monday’s meeting was Bista’s first major organisational programme in Sikkim after he was appointed the BJP’s state in-charge. He thanked the party’s central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Nitin Nabin, for giving him the responsibility.
Bista said his immediate focus would be to understand the concerns of people and party workers across Sikkim and strengthen the BJP’s organisation at the grassroots level.
Rather than beginning with a fixed agenda, he said he would first listen to local workers, understand issues in different parts of the state and work closely with the existing leadership.
The BJP leader said the party would give greater attention to strengthening its organisation from the booth level and increase public outreach through its Seva Setu Abhiyan.
He also said he would travel across Sikkim in the coming days to meet party workers and understand local issues directly.
Highlighting Sikkim’s distinct identity, Bista said the state’s cultural diversity, fragile ecology and economic potential required special attention. He pointed to connectivity, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, healthcare and education as key areas where the BJP would focus its efforts.
Bista’s appointment has attracted attention because he represents Darjeeling in Parliament while now being responsible for strengthening the BJP organisation in neighbouring Sikkim. However, he has repeatedly stressed that the two regions have different political realities and must be treated separately.
In an earlier statement, Bista had said the PPS demand in the Darjeeling hills “has nothing to do with Sikkim”, underlining Sikkim’s separate political history and its constitutional protection under Article 371F.
His latest remarks reinforce that position and are aimed at making the BJP’s stand on Sikkim clear amid continuing political discussions in the neighbouring Darjeeling hills.
Bista said he would work with the Sikkim BJP leadership and grassroots workers to expand the party’s presence while keeping public service and people’s concerns at the centre of the organisation’s work.
Sikkim BJP president D.R. Thapa has welcomed Bista’s appointment, expressing confidence that his organisational experience would help strengthen the party across the state.
अनलाइन् खबर पत्रिका तथ्य जाँच र आचारसंहिता प्रतिवेदन:
यो सामग्री हाम्रा सम्पादक टोलीद्वारा तथ्य प्रमाणीकरण र प्रेस काउन्सिल अफ इन्डिया आचारसंहिता बमोजिम प्रकाशित गरिएको हो।
