GJM MLAs to lobby for new state with new govt

Darjeeling: The four Gorkha Janmukti Morcha(GJM) MLAs who have won the recent elections will sport every single article that symbolizes the Nepali community to push its demand for a separate state. They will also lobby with the new ministers to press their demand.
The newly elected MLAs will wear the traditional dresses-daura suruwal and dhaka topi-at the ceremony in Kolkata on May 26. "We will wear the daura suruwal and dhaka topi which is the traditional dress of our community, for the swearing-in ceremony. In fact, we will also take the oath in Nepali to showcase our own tradition and culture," said Harka Bahadur Chhetri, the MLA from Kalimong and also the GJM spokesperson.
Mamata Banerjee, the new chief minister, has asked her male ministers to appear in white dhoti and kurta and women in sari, for the ceremony.
Along with, Chhetri, Rohit Sharma from Kurseong, Trilok Dewan from Darjeeling and Wilson Champramari from Kalchini in Dooars left for Kolkta on Wednesday. They are accompanied by GJM secretary Roshan Giri and three other central committee leaders.
The GJM leaders will meet the new CM and other influential ministers of the government to lobby for the Gorkhaland state demand. "We will meet the CM and other ministers. We have to start the ground work for our demand with the new government at the earliest," said Chhetri.

The Kalimpong MLA refused to elaborate on whether they would press for the demand with the new chief minister. "She (Banerjee) has promised to find a solution to the Hills problems within three months. We will wait and watch and chalk out a strategy thereafter," the GJM spokesperson said.

Chhetri ruled out starting any agitation before that. "We have hopes on the new chief minister. Therefore, we will not start any agitations in the interim period," he said.
GJM is playing safe by not antagonizing Banerjee before commencement of talks if there are any. "Our demand is with the Indian Constitution and not with her," said Chhetri, when reminded that the chief minister was against division of Bengal.
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