Darjeeling, July 29: In an effort to reorganise itself at the grassroots level, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering a proposal to form workers’ unions in the cinchona plantation and tea-gardens across north Bengal.

Unlike most national parties that have trade unions in these plantations, the BJP has not yet been able to form the same in the region.

The need to make inroads into the rural belt was felt during a review meeting of the party on its performance in the recently held Lok Sabha election. Amalendu Chattopadhyay, the state general secretary of the party, was present during the indoor session held here where a nine-member body of conveners was formed.

G.S. Yonzone, the BJP candidate from Darjeeling in the general election, has been made the chief convener, while Jason Lepcha, Subash Bomjan, Prasanna Gurung, D.B. Rai, Ster Tamang, P.V. Poudya, Suman Rai and C.K. Rai, are the other representatives of the body.

“The party had actively considered D.B. Rai’s suggestion that we form trade unions in tea gardens and cinchona plantations to espouse the cause of workers,” said G.S. Yonzone, the chief convener of the BJP.

Party members have also requested the state leadership to propose the name of Yonzone to the Tea Board, as representative of the BJP, to voice the aspirations of the hill people. The party has also decided to open its office in Darjeeling.

Despite Yonzone, a scientist and a social worker, coming a distant third after Dawa Narbula (Congress) and Mani Thapa (CPM) in the election, party leaders maintained Yonzone’s nomination in the Lok Sabha poll was the right choice.