Former Foreign Secretary Shringla rises as Darjeeling’s ‘Bhumiputra’
The Hindu
“I am giving back to the people of Darjeeling,” the former diplomat Shringla said.
Ahead of Lok Sabha election as the political temperatures are soaring in the Darjeeling hills over the demand of fielding ‘Bhumiputra’ (Son of the Soil)’ from the constituency, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has emerged as a contender from the seat.
Over the past several months Mr. Shingla has been visiting various areas in the constituency - organising various programmes under the banner of his non-governmental organisation - the Darjeeling Welfare Society- established in May 2023.
Days before the consecration of the Ram Temple on January 22 the former foreign secretary was busy organising a public event at Siliguri in the foothills of Darjeeling. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Shringla emphasised about his Darjeeling-centric roots and said that his family from both from his “paternal and maternal side have settled in the hills for the past several generations”.
“Essentially, I am guided by the will of the people and I am giving back to the people of Darjeeling,” the former diplomat said when asked whether he will take the plunge to contest Lok Sabha election on a Bharatiya Janata Party ticket from Darjeeling in 2024.
Mr. Shringla who served as the Chief Coordinator of India’s G-20 presidency in 2023 pointed out that G-20’s Tourism Working Group Meeting was held at Darjeeling and he is also using his network to bring international organisations like the Gates foundation and CEO delegation of US-India Strategic Partnership Forum to the region.
The people of Darjeeling constituency have elected BJP MPs since 2009 but none of the MPs were locals of Darjeeling and the party decided to replace the candidate after each term. The three MPs elected from Darjeeling were Jaswant Singh (2009-2014), S. S Ahluwalia (2014-2019) and Raju Bista (2019-2024).
Recently the BJP MLA from Kurseong Bishnu Pada Sharma urged BJP top leadership to field a local candidate’ Bhumiputra’ from Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat and threatened to contest the polls from the seat as an independent candidate if the party nominates an ‘outsider’ to contest the Lok Sabha polls.
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