Gangtok, April 25: Raju Bista, the Lok Sabha MP from Darjeeling and a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressed confidence on Saturday that the party could win between 170 to 180 seats in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. He attributed this optimism to a significant shift in voter sentiment.
Bista made these remarks while reviewing preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sikkim on April 27 and 28 at the Burtuk helipad in Gangtok. He was accompanied by party leader Dilip Jaiswal, who is coordinating arrangements for the Prime Minister’s two-day program, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood.
Addressing the media, Bista claimed that the BJP is receiving overwhelming support in West Bengal. He noted that the voter turnout in the first phase of polling exceeded 92%, and predicted that the BJP could win approximately 110 out of the 152 seats that voted. He attributed this potential electoral advantage to several factors, including alleged corruption, youth migration due to lack of job opportunities, and long-standing grievances against previous governments.
Bista also highlighted demographic concerns in the bordering state as an influencing factor in voter behavior. He reiterated hopes for a permanent political solution for the Darjeeling hills and the Dooars region by 2026, emphasizing that any such solution would be within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
Regarding Sikkim, the BJP leader described the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit as historic, aligning with the celebration of the state’s significant achievements. He stated that this visit would showcase Sikkim’s accomplishments and attract national attention towards its development.
Bista expressed pride in the Prime Minister’s presence, noting that preparations for public events and official functions are progressing rapidly, with several BJP leaders already present in the state. He mentioned that the party’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, is also in Sikkim as part of the coordination efforts.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will participate in several official programs on April 27 and 28.