Archive · 25 Aug 2026
CPM Veteran Asok Backs Darjeeling Autonomy, Sixth Schedule Status
Asok Bhattacharya is a senior leader of the CPM.
He says the BJP has used the hopes of people in the Darjeeling hills to win elections since 2009.
He also says the BJP has not seriously solved the region’s problems.
Bhattacharya believes the hills should receive a stronger form of self-government.
He compared this idea with the Bodoland Territorial Council and the Sixth Schedule of India’s Constitution.
He has written a book about these constitutional arrangements.
He studied how autonomous councils work in other parts of India.
Manik Sarkar is scheduled to launch the book in Siliguri on September 19.
Veteran CPM leader Asok Bhattacharya accused the BJP of exploiting Darjeeling hill aspirations since 2009 for electoral gain.
Bhattacharya said the BJP lacked the political will to resolve the hills’ longstanding political and administrative issues.
He said the CPM supports a powerful autonomous arrangement modeled on the Bodoland Territorial Council or Sixth Schedule status with Article 371.
Bhattacharya’s upcoming book examines autonomy and Sixth Schedule provisions after studying autonomous councils in other Indian states.
Former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar will launch the book in Siliguri on September 19.
- Who
- Veteran CPM leader and former Bengal minister Asok Bhattacharya; CPM leader Saman Pathak; and former Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar.
- What
- Bhattacharya criticised the BJP over Darjeeling’s unresolved autonomy demands and promoted stronger self-government or Sixth Schedule status through an upcoming book.
- When
- Bhattacharya made the comments on Monday; the book is scheduled to be launched on September 19.
- Where
- The comments were made at the CPM’s Darjeeling district office in Siliguri, and the launch is scheduled at Ramkinkar Hall of Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri.
- Why
- Bhattacharya said stronger constitutional autonomy could better address the aspirations and administrative demands of people in the Darjeeling hills.
CPM’s Position
BJP’s Alleged Approach
Political handling of hill aspirations
CPM’s Position
Asok Bhattacharya and Saman Pathak said the BJP has used the aspirations of Darjeeling hill residents for electoral gain without genuinely resolving the issue.
BJP’s Alleged Approach
The article reports the CPM’s allegation but does not include a response from the BJP.
Administrative autonomy
CPM’s Position
The CPM supports a stronger autonomous arrangement modeled on the Bodoland Territorial Council or based on Sixth Schedule status with Article 371.
BJP’s Alleged Approach
The article does not state the BJP’s current position on the CPM’s proposed autonomy models.
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
CPM’s Position
Bhattacharya said groups that once opposed alternative administrative arrangements later accepted the less powerful Gorkhaland Territorial Administration.
BJP’s Alleged Approach
The article does not provide those groups’ or the BJP’s response to this criticism.
- Main critic
- Asok Bhattacharya, veteran CPM leader and former Bengal minister
- Main allegation
- Bhattacharya alleged that the BJP has exploited hill aspirations for political gain since 2009.
- CPM position
- The party supports a powerful autonomous arrangement for the hills.
- Proposed models
- The Bodoland Territorial Council or Sixth Schedule status with Article 371
- Book title
- Bharatiya Sangbidhane Swashan o Sastha Tafshil
- Book subject
- Autonomy within the Indian Constitution and the Sixth Schedule
- Launch date and venue
- September 19 at Ramkinkar Hall of Dinabandhu Mancha in Siliguri
- Additional criticism
- Saman Pathak accused the BJP of using “dole politics” around hill aspirations for electoral purposes.