Bhaichung Bhutia likely to quit Bengal politics, eyes political field of Sikkim

GANGTOK: Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who contested from Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and Siliguri Assembly constituency in 2016 from the ruling TMC party, is likely to quit Bengal political field soon. Talks have been floating in Sikkim at 2017 ending months that the Tinkitam-born could get politically involved in his home State.
Close sources share that Bhaichung was into active politics after the Bengal Assembly polls but gradually drifted out from public politicking, especially in the aftermath of the 104-Gorkhaland agitation last year in Darjeeling hills.
Bhaichung, while as a TMC member, had last September expressed his unhappiness in the forceful measures adopted by the State government to handle the Gorkhaland movement. He was also not in complete agreement in the thought process of the TMC on the Gorkhaland issue.
“After many lives were lost in the agitation, Bhaichung had been very unhappy. He also felt that the Sikkim MPs did not do much and did not spoke about the issue in the Parliament when some other parties did,” said a close aide.
It would be interesting to see what would be the next political step or territory of the 41-year-old.
Towards the end of 2017, there was a strong rumour here that many political leaders of Sikkim have been meeting him. There was a demand from the people from his home State that Bhaichung should come back and get politically involved for the betterment of Sikkim, the close sources said.
“Only time will tell. Till then we just wait,” says his friends.
Bhaichung is presently in Begusarai, Bihar where the Sikkim football team is playing the east zone qualifying round of Santosh Trophy. He is leading the State team as the chief coach.

Courtesy: Sikkim Express