The queen of hills, Darjeeling, is witnessing a high-voltage political drama as the 2026 Assembly Elections approach. While the BJP has historically enjoyed the support of hill parties, the current seat-sharing equation has become a nightmare for the saffron brigade. With multiple allies like GNLF, Bimal Gurung’s Morcha, and Ajay Edwards’ Front all eyeing the same prestigious Darjeeling seat, the BJP is finding it hard to strike a balance.

Adding to the pressure, Anit Thapa’s BGPM has already declared candidates for all three hill seats—Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong—starting an aggressive campaign. Thapa remarked that unlike the TMC, which respects its partners, the BJP is a “dangerous party” that fails to honor its allies. This has put the BJP on the defensive, as they are yet to finalize their candidate list while trying to pacify disgruntled partners like Neeraj Zimba and Roshan Giri.

Strategic experts believe that the internal rift between the hill allies could prove costly for the BJP. If the party fails to settle the dispute between heavyweights like Bimal Gurung and Ajay Edwards, the Gorkhaland territory might witness a significant shift in power. As the clock ticks, the BJP leadership is in a frantic race to prevent a rebellion in the hills.