Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) President and the current Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Anit Thapa, is contesting the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from the Kurseong constituency.
Thapa has overseen a significant shift in regional politics, moving the needle from years of unrest toward a model of stable administration and localized development.
His political journey reached a turning point in September 2021 when he founded the 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.
On the campaign trail in 2026, Thapa has framed the election as a choice between 'the politics of slogans' and 'the politics of delivery,' urging voters to maintain the current stability to protect the Hills' fragile economy.
Thapa was born in Mungpoo, 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 elected uncontested to the GTA in 2013. However, during the violent 2017 Gorkhaland agitation, he famously broke ranks with the older leadership's confrontational approach.
Thapa faces a challenge from a divided opposition in the 2026 polls. His campaign has centered on his record of restoring grassroots democracy, specifically highlighting the successful conduct of Panchayat elections after a 23-year gap, where the BGPM won a majority in most Gram Sabhas.
If elected, he has promised to legalize land rights (Parcha-Patta) for tea garden workers and expand the powers of the regional staff selection commission to ensure transparent, localized recruitment for hill youth.
