Anit Thapa quits as GTA chief a day after CM Adhikari ordered corruption probe
Synopsis
Anit Thapa walked away from the GTA chief executive post a year early — just 24 hours after CM Suvendu Adhikari publicly threatened a corruption crackdown. With no resignation statement offered, the timing speaks louder than any explanation could.
Key Takeaways
Anit Thapa resigned as GTA Chief Executive on 17 June 2025 , a year before his scheduled tenure end in 2027 .
The resignation came 24 hours after CM Suvendu Adhikari announced a probe into alleged corruption in the GTA at a public meeting in Kurseong .
Adhikari specifically flagged alleged irregularities in teacher recruitment for GTA-run schools in the hills.
Thapa offered no public comment on his reasons for resigning.
The GTA oversees 59 departments across Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, including education, health, and public works.
Anit Thapa, founder of the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), resigned on Wednesday, 17 June as Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — the autonomous body overseeing civic affairs across the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kurseong in North Bengal. The resignation came barely 24 hours after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari publicly announced a probe into alleged rampant corruption within the GTA.
The Trigger: Adhikari's Corruption Warning
At a public meeting in Kurseong on Tuesday, Chief Minister Adhikari raised pointed allegations of widespread corruption in the GTA's functioning, with particular focus on the recruitment of teachers for GTA-run schools in the hills. He warned that those responsible would be identified and 'put behind bars.' The announcement set off immediate political tremors across the Darjeeling hills.
Thapa's Early Exit
Thapa had assumed the GTA Chief Executive's chair in 2022, with his tenure scheduled to run until 2027. By resigning on Wednesday, he vacated the post a full year ahead of schedule. As of the time of filing, Thapa had not offered any public statement or comment to media explaining the reasons behind his early departure.
What Is the GTA and Why It Matters
The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was established in 2011 through a tripartite agreement between the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, the West Bengal government, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) — shortly after the Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) came to power, ending the 34-year Left Front rule in the state. The GTA replaced the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which had been in place since 1988.
The body holds administrative and financial authority over approximately 59 departments, spanning education, health, agriculture, tourism, and public works across the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts. The BGPM, Thapa's party, is a hill ally of the TMC — the previous ruling party in West Bengal before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned Adhikari came to power.
Political Context
Thapa's exit marks a significant political shift in the Darjeeling hills. His BGPM's alliance with the TMC placed the GTA squarely within the orbit of the previous state government's political ecosystem. With the BJP now in a position to scrutinise GTA's functioning, the probe announcement and the subsequent resignation signal a potential realignment of hill politics. Notably, this is not the first time the GTA has faced allegations of financial irregularities — critics have long argued that the body's governance has lacked adequate transparency.
What Comes Next
The GTA's leadership now faces a vacuum at its helm, with no immediate successor named. The state government's probe, if formally constituted, is expected to examine recruitment practices and financial management across GTA departments. The developments are likely to reshape political equations in the Darjeeling hills ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Arriving within 24 hours of a chief minister's public corruption warning, is rarely coincidental — but it is also not yet proof. The more important question is whether Adhikari's probe will be formally constituted and independently conducted, or whether it serves primarily as political leverage in the BJP's bid to redraw the Darjeeling hills' power map. The GTA has long been accused of opacity; if the probe is rigorous, it could expose systemic failures that predate Thapa's tenure. If it is selective, it risks looking like a political purge dressed as accountability.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Anit Thapa resign as GTA Chief Executive?
Anit Thapa resigned on 17 June 2025 as GTA Chief Executive, a day after CM Suvendu Adhikari announced a probe into alleged corruption in the body. Thapa offered no public statement explaining his decision.
What is the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)?
The GTA is an autonomous body established in 2011 through a tripartite agreement between the Centre, West Bengal government, and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. It governs approximately 59 departments — including education, health, and public works — across the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hill districts.
What corruption allegations did CM Adhikari raise against the GTA?
At a public meeting in Kurseong on Tuesday, CM Suvendu Adhikari alleged rampant corruption in the GTA, particularly in the recruitment of teachers for GTA-run schools. He warned that those responsible would be identified and imprisoned.
When was Anit Thapa's GTA tenure supposed to end?
Thapa assumed the GTA Chief Executive's chair in 2022, and his tenure was scheduled to continue until 2027. His resignation on 17 June 2025 cut that term short by approximately a year.
What is the political significance of Thapa's resignation?
Thapa's BGPM is a hill ally of the TMC, the previous ruling party in West Bengal. His exit amid a BJP-aligned CM's corruption probe signals a potential political realignment in the Darjeeling hills, with implications for future electoral contests in the region.
