Most Successful parties in Darjeeling Assembly constituency
  1. Independent (5 times) (26.3%)
  2. Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League (4 times) (21.1%)
  3. Gorkha National Liberation Front (3 times) (15.8%)
  4. Bharatiya Janata Party (3 times) (15.8%)
  5. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (2 times) (10.5%)
  6. Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2 times) (10.5%)

Darjeeling Assembly constituency is an assembly constituency in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Overview

As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, No. 23 Darjeeling Assembly constituency covers Darjeeling municipality, Darjeeling Pulbazar community development block and Dhootria Kalej Valley, Ghum Khasmahal, Sukhia-Simana, Rangbhang Gopaldhara, Pokhriabong I, Pokhriabong II, Pokhriabong III, Lingia Maraybong, Permaguri Tamsang, Plungdung and Rangbull gram panchayats of Jorebunglow Sukhiapokhri community development block.[1]

Darjeeling Assembly constituency is part of No. 4 Darjeeling (Lok Sabha constituency).[1]

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Year Name Party
1952 Dalbahadur Singh Gahatraj Independent
1957 Deo Prakash Rai
1962 Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
1967 Independent
1969 Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League
1971
1972
1977 Independent
1982 Dawa Lama Communist Party of India (Marxist)
1987
1991 Narendra Kumai Independent
1996 Nar Bahadur Chhetri Gorkha National Liberation Front
2001 D.K. Pradhan
2006 Pranay Rai
2011 Trilok Dewan Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
2016 Amar Singh Rai
2019^ Neeraj Zimba Bharatiya Janata Party
2021
2026 Noman Rai
  • ^ by-election

Election results

Vote share of Winning candidates
2026
 
 35.72%
2021
 
 40.88%
2019 (by-poll)
 
 61.80%
2016
 
 59.85%
2011
 
 78.51%
2006
 
 52.97%
2001
 
 63.49%
1996
 
 50.89%
1991
 
 54.51%
1987
 
 90.88%
1982
 
 50.27%
1977
 
 31.75%
1972
 
 45.34%
1971
 
 46.62%
1969
 
 57.68%
1967
 
 51.03%
1962
 
 49.17%
1957
 
 33.30%
1951
 
 48.05%

2026

2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Noman Rai 62,076 35.72 Decrease5.16
BGPM Bijoy Kumar Rai 56,019 32.23 New entry
IND Ajoy Lucas Edwards 48,635 27.98 New entry
IND Jatin Ghalay 1,937 1.11 New entry
INC Madhap Rai 1,729 0.99 New entry
RAJSP Milan Thokar 1,371 0.79 New entry
NOTA Nota 2,040 1.17 Decrease0.34
Majority 6,057 3.49 Decrease9.13
Turnout 173,807 82.37 Increase14.03
Registered electors 210,995 Decrease14.46
BJP hold Swing 4.56

2021

2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Neeraj Tamang Zimba 68,907 40.88
IND Keshav Raj Sharma 47,631 28.26
IND Pemba Tshering 38,240 22.68
IND Suraj Gurung 2,855 1.69
NOTA None of the Above 2,540 1.51
IND Nima Gyamtsho Sherpa 2,088 1.24
CPI(M) Gautam Raj Rai 1,913 1.13
IND Anjani Sharma 1,677 0.99
IND Milan Thokar 1,397 0.83
IND Bharat Prakash Rai 1,327 0.79
Majority 21,276 12.62
Turnout 168,575 68.34
BJP hold Swing

2019 by-election

In the West Bengal Legislative Assembly by-election 2019, Neeraj Zimba of BJP defeated his nearest rival Binay Tamang (Independent). The by-election was held because the sitting MLA Amar Singh Rai resigned to contest in the Lok Sabha election.

2019 West Bengal Legislative Assembly by-election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Neeraj Zimba 88,161 61.80
GJM(B)[a] Binay Tamang 41,623 29.18
JAP Amar Lama 3,242 2.27
CPI(M) K. B. Wattar 2,087 1.46
IND Swaraj Thapa 1,768 1.24
IND Sarda Rai Subba 1,270 0.89
IDRF[b] Sanjay Thakuri 1,183 0.83
GRC Amar Luksom 1,166 0.82
ABGL Biplov Rai 668 0.47
NOTA None of the Above 1,487 1.04 −2.25
Majority 46,538 32.62 +1.30
Turnout 142,675 59.71
Swing to BJP from GJM Swing

2016

2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
GJM Amar Singh Rai 95,386 59.85
AITC Sarda Rai Subba 45,473 28.53
IND Govind Chettri 8,982 5.64
NOTA None of the Above 5,817 3.65
GRC Ashok Kumar Lepcha 3,716 2.33
Majority 49,913 31.32
Turnout 159,374 67.11
GJM hold Swing

2011

2011 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
GJM Trilok Kumar Dewan 120,532 78.51
GNLF Bim Subba 13,977 9.10
ABGL Bharati Tamang 11,198 7.29
CPI(M) K. B. Wattar 5,353 3.49
INC Nahakul Chandra Chhetri 2,463 1.60
Majority 106,555 69.41
Turnout 153,523 70.44
Swing to GJM from GNLF Swing

2006

2006 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
GNLF Pranay Rai 58,646 52.97 Winner
IND Amar Lama 36,636 33.09
CPI(M) K. B. Wattar 12,755 11.52
AITC Gopal Singh Chhetri 2,673 2.41
Majority 22,010 19.88
Turnout 1,10,710
GNLF hold Swing

2001

2001 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
GNLF D. K. Pradhan 66,839 63.49 Winner
IND Sawan Rai 21,576 20.49
CPI(M) K. B. Watter 9,694 9.21
INC Parvati Pradhan 4,445 4.22
BJP Kishore Chandra Rai 2,723 2.59
Majority 45,263 43.00
Turnout 1,05,277 60.59
GNLF hold Swing

1996

1996 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
GNLF Nar Bahadur Chettri 51,501 50.89
CPI(M) Kamala Sanskrityayana 26,034 25.72
ABGL Madan Kumar Rai (Bantawa) 18,503 18.28
BJP Prahlad Prasad Gupta 2,602 2.57
AIIC(T) Raja Rai 1,181 1.17
IND Pramod Tamang 680 0.67
IND Bhutia Pema Tshering Lama 386 0.38
IUML Ahmad Mansur 316 0.31
Majority 25,467 25.17
Turnout 106,573 69.93
Swing to GNLF from Independent Swing

1991

1991 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
IND Narendra Kumai 47,722 54.51
ABGL J. D. S. Rai 35,489 40.54
BJP D. P. Chhetri 2,592 2.96
IND Surja Narayan Pradhan 1,743 1.99
Majority 12,233 13.97
Turnout 102,451 69.61
Swing to Independent from CPI(M) Swing

1987

1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling[c]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
CPI(M) Dawa Lama 13,897 90.88
INC P. P. Rai 1,104 7.22
IND Diamond Muthey 175 1.14
IND Rajgopal Bhandari 88 0.58
IND Kishor Guruna 27 0.18
Majority 12,793 83.66
Turnout 15,843 13.23
CPI(M) hold Swing

1982

1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
CPI(M) Dawa Lama 29,165 50.27
IND J. D. S. Rai 28,856 49.73
Majority 309 0.54
Turnout 60,012 59.40
Swing to CPI(M) from Independent Swing

1977

1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
IND Deo Prakash Rai 12,607 31.75
CPI(M) Sangdopal Lepcha 8,414 21.19
IND Madan Kumar Thapa 5,311 13.38
INC P. P. Rai 5,235 13.18
JP Khaling Nirmal Chandra 4,876 12.28
IND Nandalal Gurung 1,952 4.92
IND Dalbahadur Singh Gahatraj 590 1.49
ABGL Santosh Kumar Gurung 383 0.96
IND Subhash Ghising 269 0.68
IND Madan Kumar Rai 68 0.17
Majority 4,193 10.56
Turnout 40,951 44.87
Swing to Independent from ABGL Swing

1972

1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
ABGL Deo Prakash Rai 14,933 45.34
IND G. S. Gurung 9,476 28.77
INC P. P. Rai 7,331 22.26
IND Thakur Prasad 789 2.40
IND Guman Singh Chamling 403 1.22
Majority 5,457 16.57
Turnout 34,141 52.60
ABGL hold Swing

1971

1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
ABGL Deo Prakash Rai 14,998 46.62
INC Madan Kumar Thapa 9,133 28.39
CPI(M) Rajendra Kumar Sinha 8,042 25.00
Majority 5,865 18.23
Turnout 33,745 53.42
ABGL hold Swing

1969

1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
ABGL Deo Prakash Rai 15,698 57.68
INC Madan Kumar Thapa 11,519 42.32
Majority 4,179 15.36
Turnout 28,321 50.01
Swing to ABGL from Independent Swing

1967

1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
IND D. Rai 14,281 51.03
INC M. K. Thapa 9,085 32.46
IND G. L. Subba 4,621 16.51
Majority 5,196 18.57
Turnout 29,373 54.32
Swing to Independent from ABGL Swing

1962

1962 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
ABGL Deo Prakash Rai 9,139 49.17
CPI Ananda Prasad Pathak 4,619 24.85
INC D. Yonjan 3,413 18.36
IND Jatig Chandra Rai 1,183 6.36
PSP Tarak Kumar Kashi 234 1.26
Majority 4,520 24.32
Turnout 19,437 36.24
Swing to ABGL from Independent Swing

1957

1957 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
IND Deo Prakash Rai 4,400 33.30
CPI Ananda Prasad 4,256 32.21
INC Dalbahadur Singh Gahatraj 2,836 21.47
IND Mahananda Subba 773 5.85
IND P. P. Pradhan 544 4.12
IND Debahadur 403 3.05
Majority 144 1.09
Turnout 13,212 33.35
Independent hold Swing

1951

1951 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election: Darjeeling
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
IND Dalbahadur Singh Gahatraj 7,141 48.05
INC T. Mansen 3,872 26.05
CPI Ratanlal Brahman 3,849 25.90
Majority 3,269 22.00
Turnout 14,862 36.20
Independent win (new seat)

Notes

  1. ↑ Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay Faction)
  2. ↑ Indian Democratic Republican Front
  3. ↑ The 1987 West Bengal state elections coincided with the height of the violent Gorkhaland statehood agitation in the Darjeeling hills. The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) called for a massive, strictly enforced boycott of the election. Consequently, the vast majority of the electorate stayed home, dropping the turnout to 13.23%. Because the GNLF and its supporters boycotted rather than fielding a candidate, the few voters who did show up at the polls were predominantly CPI(M) loyalists, which allowed Dawa Lama to capture nearly 91% of the meager vote count.

References

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Assembly_constituency