The demand of fielding ‘Bhumiputra’ (Son of the Soil)’ — former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla (IFS: 1984) — from Darjeeling constituency has been soaring in the hill city from very long. Shringla has emerged as the top contender from the seat.
Over the past several months Shingla has been visiting various areas in the constituency and organising various programmes under the banner of his non-governmental organisation – the Darjeeling Welfare Society- established in May 2023. The BJP is likely to announce its fourth list of candidates which may figure over 150 names including Shringla.
If he is fielded, he would be the fourth top diplomate in the saffron fold. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar (IFS 1977) and Hardeep Singh Puri (IFS: 1974) are in the Union cabinet. Puri was fielded in the last Lok Sabha Election from Amritsar but lost. The 72-year-old Puri may not get cabinet berth if the BJP forms the government again in 2024. Taranjit Singh Sandhu (IFS: 1988), former Indian ambassador to the United States, joined the BJP on March 19, 2024.
