Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) president and incumbent CEO of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Anit Thapa, is contesting in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from Kurseong constituency. As the central political authority in the Darjeeling Hills, Thapa oversaw a major shift in regional politics, moving the needle from years of turmoil toward a model of stable administration and local development.
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Thapa’s political journey reached a turning point in September 2021 when he founded BGPM. Since leading the party to a decisive victory in the GTA elections, he has positioned himself as a pragmatic leader capable of maintaining peace while negotiating with the state government. During the 2026 election campaign, Thapa framed the election as a choice between “slogan politics” and “delivery politics”, urging voters to maintain the current stability to protect the fragile economy in the Hills region.
early life
Anit Thapa was born in Mongpo, Darjeeling district, and educated in Kurseong and Darjeeling, making him a true ‘son of the soil’ in the eyes of his constituents. He began his political career in 2007 with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) and was uncontestedly elected to the GTA in 2013. However, during the violent agitation in Gorkhaland in 2017, he famously departed from the confrontational approach of the senior leadership. Together with Benoy Tamang, he worked to reshape regional discourse, eventually launching the BGPM to focus on administrative reforms and the revival of grassroots democracy.
About Kurseong District
Kurseong District, often called the “Land of White Orchids,” is a vibrant sector that includes urban centers and sprawling tea plantations. In his 2026 affidavit, Thapa declared the total assets to be worth approx $3.12 lakh crore, including residential properties in Kurseong and agricultural land.
For the 2026 elections, Thapa faces a challenge from a divided opposition. His campaign focused on his record of restoring grassroots democracy, specifically highlighting the successful conduct of panchayat elections after a gap of 23 years, in which the BGPM won a majority in most Gram Sabhas. If elected, he promised to legalize land rights (parsha patta) for tea garden workers and expand the powers of the Regional Staff Selection Commission to ensure transparent and local recruitment of hill youth.
What happened in the previous elections?
While the BJP won the Kurseong seat in the 2021 Assembly elections, the political landscape has since completely shifted in favor of Thapa’s BGPM. In the 2022 GTA elections, his party won 27 seats out of 45, effectively becoming the dominant political force in the region.
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Ahead of the 2026 session, Thapa has consolidated his control over municipal bodies and local government institutions. His 2026 campaign represents his first major attempt to translate his administrative control of the GTA into a direct legislative presence in the West Bengal Assembly. Polling in the hills was held during the early stages of the 2026 elections, with Thapa banking on his image as a “stable official” to ensure a historic victory for his nascent party.
(With inputs from local offices and ECI feedback)
