Dr. Tamang, who launched his outreach campaign from Gorubathan Block on July 7, concluded the first leg at Bindu of Jaldhaka on July 11. During this phase, he visited numerous villages and towns across the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, interacting with residents, listening to grievances, and examining ground realities. He described this mission as a “Khoj Yatra”—a journey of discovery—committed to reaching the areas he could not cover during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He said the campaign was aimed at not only understanding public issues but also drawing the attention of concerned authorities to persistent problems plaguing the region. Tamang visited villages in Gorubathan Block’s 43rd, 44th, and 45th GTA constituencies, holding talks with local residents, elected representatives, and school authorities to assess the condition of educational institutions. He also visited several schools such as Kumai High School and Kopish MSK to evaluate their facilities, teacher availability, and student access to quality education. He raised alarm over the shortage of teachers in government institutions and linked the crisis to growing unemployment in the region.
During the press conference, Tamang alleged that the BJP government at the Centre was not serious about resolving the Gorkha issues and warned that no significant developments should be expected as long as the party remains in power. He said the Gorkha community’s demands for political recognition and inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes list were being sidelined.
He also criticized the condition of public infrastructure, pointing to poor road connectivity, inconsistent electricity supply, and severe water shortages in several areas. He particularly highlighted anomalies such as Lava town being excluded from its own postal code due to new administrative boundary changes under the Algarah Block. Similarly, he noted that residents of Gorubathan were forced to travel to Oodlabari for electricity-related services due to the lack of a local facility.
Visiting educational institutions was a key part of Tamang’s journey. At Gorubathan College, the only degree college in the entire block, he expressed both appreciation and concern. While lauding the efforts of the institution in catering to students from far-flung villages, he emphasized that it was grossly under-resourced. “Despite Gorubathan being the largest block in Kalimpong district, it has just one college. This is unacceptable. The government must upgrade the infrastructure and increase faculty appointments urgently to support local youth,” Tamang said.
“The economic situation in the hills is fragile. Our youth are migrating to urban centres and even abroad in search of employment,” Tamang said, stressing that there were over 700 vacancies in the Cinchona plantation sector under the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). He also pointed out the acute shortage of teachers in schools and termed the education-employment situation as a “crisis.”
Tamang came down heavily on the continued functioning of Kalimpong Municipality without an elected body, terming it an “attack on democracy.” “Running a civic institution without elected representatives is nothing short of a mockery of democratic principles,” he stated.
He further alleged administrative irregularities and corruption in government-run institutions such as Kalimpong District Hospital and municipal offices. He questioned the execution of several government schemes and expressed dismay over the lack of a separate Block Development Office in 44th and 45th Constituency Jaldhaka area of the present Gorubathan block despite Gorubathan having sub-divisional like status in Police administration.
Dr. Tamang also underscored the socio-political marginalisation of Gorubathan, arguing that despite being the largest block in Kalimpong district, it remained administratively neglected. He reiterated his earlier stance that Jaldhaka should be declared a separate block to improve governance and service delivery.
As part of his visit, Dr. Tamang paid homage at the statue of literary figure Haimandas Rai Kirat in Gorubathan’s Somabarey Bazaar and interacted with his family members. He also toured historically and culturally significant locations such as Dalimtar, the Dalgaon View Point, Tungsung Siddheshwari Temple, and the Jaldhaka Hydel Project, besides speaking with law enforcement officials like Mitra Dewan, the OC of Jaldhakag Police Station.
Dr. Tamang emphasized the tourism potential of the region and praised initiatives by locals to promote ethnic culture and sustainable travel. During his visit to various localities like Chisang, Parengtar, Todey-Tangta, and Cinchona areas of Gairibas, Rongo, he met with local entrepreneurs. He also evaluated the condition of the crucial bridge connecting Tode-Tangta villages, noting its urgent need for repair.
Following his outreach, Tamang announced his intention to submit a memorandum to the Kalimpong District Magistrate regarding the various public grievances encountered during his journey. He also committed to raising these issues with the appropriate state and central government authorities in the coming days.
In a significant political development, Tamang met with Dr. Vikrant Bhuria, National Chairman of the AICC Scheduled Tribes Department and sitting MLA, at Bagdogra Airport on Sunday. The two leaders reportedly discussed in detail the status of tribal recognition for Gorkha communities and other pressing issues of Darjeeling. Dr. Bhuria was en route to Bihar on Rahul Gandhi’s instruction to investigate atrocities committed against a tribal family in Purnia.
The Congress delegation welcoming Bhuria at the airport included West Bengal Pradesh Adivasi Congress Chairman Sunil Tirkey, Darjeeling District Congress Coordinator Subin Bhowmik, Co-coordinator Amitabh Sarkar, Krishna Bahadur Thapa, Navnita Tirkey, Kanchan Kusua, Prashant Singhal, and Raja Majumdar, Secretary of West Bengal Youth Congress.
With public dissatisfaction against the BJP reportedly growing nationwide, Dr. Tamang voiced optimism for political change. “There is growing discontent across the country… I believe the time for change is coming,” he said during his interaction with residents in Rongo of Gorubathan Block, where he reaffirmed his commitment to listening to people’s concerns and championing their causes.
Tamang’s campaign continues across the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency, spotlighting the region’s unmet needs and reviving political dialogue around the identity, development, and aspirations of the hill people.
