The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) decided to opt for a torch as its symbol for the Assembly elections on Wednesday, a day after it realised that having the candle as its symbol would not be possible.

Anit Thapa’s party had been canvassing with the candle as its symbol for the past month. It had put up posters and banners with the candle symbol.

However, the candle is not available as a free symbol in the Election Commission of India’s list in the Assembly elections.

The candle is reserved as a symbol of the People’s Democratic Front in Meghalaya, which gained the status of a state party in 2017.

Thapa, the president of the BGPM, announced the new symbol on Wednesday. “We will now fight on the symbol of the torch. It will not be blown off either by wind or rain…. Whatever happens happens for the good. We need to move forward with a positive mindset.”

Thapa was with his party candidate Amar Lama, who filed his nomination from Kurseong on Wednesday.

In Kalimpong, sitting BGPM MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha also led a huge rally through the town to file his nomination. The party’s Darjeeling candidate, Bijoy Kumar Rai, will file his nomination on Thursday.

“I don’t think that the change in symbol (from candle to torch) will make any difference. People are standing with us for our ideology and politics,” said Lepcha.

The BGPM had earlier contested the panchayat elections and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections on a candle symbol. However, the EC does not conduct those elections. The panchayat elections are conducted by the state election commission while the GTA election is conducted by the home and hill affairs department.

April Fool’s campaign

The Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), the hill party helmed by Ajoy Edwards, had a creative campaign on April Fool’s Day. Fake ₹500 notes were found scattered in Chowrasta.

Many picked up the fake notes only to realise it was an April Fool’s prank. On the other side of the note was a message saying one should not vote in the Assembly polls for a ₹500 note and mutton-rice, but for change. Change (Parivartan) is the IGJF tagline.

The party has fielded its chief convener Edwards from Darjeeling, Bandana Rai from Kurseong and Bhernone Britto Lepcha from Kalimpong.