A new party will be launched by hill leader Anit Thapa here on September 9 in an event where only leaders and supporters who have received both the doses of the Covid-19 vaccine will be let in.

Thapa’s close aide Keshav Raj Pokhrel said the party will be launched at the Rink Skating Hall at Darjeeling Gymkhana Club.

“We were waiting to see if Covid protocols were changed by the state government but that didn’t happen. If we held a public meeting, we’d have got more than 50,000 people at the meeting. Hence we changed our plans,” said Pokhrel.

The Hall can accommodate around 600 people. “Only people who have received both doses of the vaccine will be permitted to enter the hall. Volunteers will check the vaccination certificate,” said Pokhrel. To reach out to more people, Thapa’s colleagues will organise live shows of the event at each of the 45 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration constituencies across the hills.