Kolkata: Seven municipalities, including four in the hills around Darjeeling, in West Bengal will vote on Sunday after a bitter campaign between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party-Gorkha Janamukti Morcha alliance.
Speaking to News18, GJM secretary Roshan Giri said, “People in the Hills were cheated by the state government and I am sure that this time people will again vote for GJM for better civic amenities and for a separate Gorkhaland state.”
This time, TMC has formed an alliance with Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and tried to put up a fight against GJM-BJP alliance.
“People voted for GJM only for a separate Gorkhaland. Many people now believe that BJP is using GJM for its political interest. This time, there is a chance for other parties including GNLF and Harka Bahadur Chhetri’s Jana Andolan Party (JAP) in Kalimpong,” said a political observer.
Even Bimal Gurung has expressed concern over JAP’s immense popularity in Kalimpong. “The other concern is Independent candidates who will have a good impact on vote shares of all political parties, including GJM. In Darjeeling alone, 22 independents candidates have filed their nominations. In Kurseong and Mirik the figure is 10 each and in Kalimpong it is 26,” a GJM leader said.
In a public rally, TMC general secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “People of Bengal will reject the communal politics of BJP and other opposition parties which are supporting the BJP. People in the Hills are complaining of poor civic amenities.”
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