In a sweeping move that has sent shockwaves across the Darjeeling hills, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to replace its prominent sitting MLAs for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. The party’s second list of candidates reveals a bold strategy, as two-time legislator Neeraj Zimba has been denied a ticket from the Darjeeling constituency. This overhaul covers all three major hill seats, signaling a complete change in leadership in the region.

According to the official list, the BJP has fielded Noman Rai from the Darjeeling (23) constituency, replacing the incumbent Neeraj Zimba. In Kurseong (24), where former MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma had already drifted away from the party, the BJP has nominated Sonam Lama. The Kalimpong (22) seat also sees a new face in Bharat Chetri. While the party has retained stalwarts like Shankar Ghosh in Siliguri, the decision to drop Zimba indicates a significant shift in the party’s tactical approach toward Gorkha politics.

The exclusion of Neeraj Zimba is being viewed as a calculated risk by the BJP high command to counter the growing influence of the BGPM-TMC alliance in the hills. Sources suggest that internal surveys pointed toward a need for fresh faces to revitalize the cadre and address local grievances. By introducing Noman Rai and Sonam Lama, the BJP aims to reclaim its dominance in its traditional stronghold. All eyes will now be on the hills to see if this fresh lineup can withstand the challenge from Anit Thapa’s candidates and keep the saffron flag flying high in Darjeeling.