Bista begins Sikkim BJP role, sets six-month target to strengthen party organisation

SINGTAM,: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sikkim welcomed the newly appointed BJP Sikkim State in-charge and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista to Sikkim today. He was welcomed by State BJP members at Rangpo and later at the BJP State party head office in Singtam by BJP Sikkim State President DR Thapa.

The reception was followed by a coordination meeting with party functionaries at the party head office.

Bista said his immediate focus in Sikkim would be to strengthen the party organisation from the booth to the district level, making it clear that he had not come to Sikkim to contest elections or seek any political position.

Describing his appointment as both a privilege and a responsibility, Bista said his connection with Sikkim went beyond his organisational role.

“Becoming the Sikkim State in-charge is a matter of great fortune to me and it is also a massive responsibility. This connection between Sikkim and me is not just of an in-charge, but it is a connection of blood, as being from a Gorkha and Nepali speaking community,” he said.

Bista said the BJP’s politics should not be limited to electoral gains, stressing that the party had a larger role in strengthening society.

“The politics of BJP is not just about gaining power but also about building a society. We are here to bring reform and serve the society,” he said.

He said the next six months would be focused on strengthening the party at the district and region levels, activating its various cells and morchas and expanding its presence at the booth level.

According to Bista, the BJP currently has a presence in nearly 300 of around 850 to 900 booths in Sikkim. He set a target of establishing an 11-member team at every booth over the next six months.

“The target for us over the next six months is a strong district team, a strong region team, a strong district Morcha and cell team and a strong region morcha and cell team. Today, if there are 300 booths, we will set up a 1+10, 11-member team for 100 percent of the booths,” he said.

Bista also called for strengthening the party’s youth, women and minority morchas as well as its various cells at the district and mandal levels.

“Sikkim government is a participant in the BJP’s NDA. We respect all workers and leadership for that. However, BJP is a national party. We have our own organisation, and we do not take permission from anyone to build our organisation,” Bista said.

“This is our right, given to us by the Constitution of India. We will further flourish, expand, and make the Bharatiya Janata Party even stronger,” he added.

At the same time, Bista said the BJP respected all political parties in Sikkim and would cooperate with the State government wherever required.

“However, the Bharatiya Janata Party also has full right to build its organisation. No one can stop this. This is a right granted by the law and the Constitution of India,” he added.

On the BJP’s alliance with the Sikkim KrantikariMorcha (SKM), Bista said the decision on whether the alliance would continue or whether the BJP would contest elections independently rested with the central leadership.

“I have neither come here to become a leader nor to make leaders. I want to work alongside every worker, through joy and sorrow, to strengthen our party further,” he added.

Bista also spoke about the relationship between Sikkim and the Gorkha and Nepali speaking community, saying BJP workers in Sikkim should take pride in their identity while keeping the State’s self-respect paramount.

“In the days to come, we have a major responsibility. I beat my chest and say in Darjeeling: there are many leaders working for the BJP, but fewer working for the Gorkhas. That's why I am a leader of the Gorkhas, not just the BJP,” he said.

He also urged party workers to maintain humility and discipline in their public conduct.

He said the conduct of BJP workers should be such that people could identify them through their behaviour, speech and actions.

Bista said the BJP should build its support through public service rather than political mobilisation alone.

He further said the party’s objective was not to strengthen the organisation for personal benefits or contracts.

The State in-charge also said strengthening the BJP organisation would help ensure that government schemes and benefits reached people more effectively.

“Sikkim holds a special place in India. Sikkim has a distinct dignity, a proud identity, and recognition. It has a rich heritage, a rich culture, and sensitive circumstances as well,” he said.

He also appealed to BJP workers to work collectively and maintain discipline as they expand the party’s presence across the State.

“I have not come here to become a leader, nor have I come here to seek contracts. Just as Sikkim loves me as a Gorkha and Nepali brother and respects me, I too deeply love the people of Sikkim and this sacred land,” Bista said.

BJP Sikkim president DR Thapa also called upon party workers to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level and said the party stood for protecting Sikkim’s distinct identity and constitutional interests.

BJP Sikkim general secretary Arjun Rai described Bista’s appointment as significant, saying it was the first time a Nepali speaking leader had been appointed as the party’s Sikkim in-charge. He said Bista had been raising issues concerning the Nepali speaking community in Parliament for a long time.