GJMM starts filing nominations for 3-tier rural polls

DARJEELING, 10 JUNE: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha started filing nomination papers for the three-tier rural polls in its support base in the Dooars today. The party leadership decided to continue filing nominations till the last date of nomination.

The GJMM leader, Mr Jyoti Kumar Rai said the party would announce the final list of its candidates after 17 June, the date of withdrawal of nominations. The party is still optimistic about the alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha under the leadership of ABAVP splinter leader Mr John Barla in the Dooars.

“We are fielding our candidates in each block in the Dooars. However, we might have fewer number of candidates at Nagrakatta and Kumargram blocks,” said Mr Rai adding that, “The GJMM will have maximum candidates at Kalchini, Madarihat and Dhupguri blocks.”

It has been learnt from the leader that the state election commission has recently issued a notification notifying that the registered political party would gain ‘priority’ in choosing the symbol over the independent candidates of other political parties.

The Jalpaiguri DM, Ms Smaraki Mahapatra, said: “The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has not got a reserved symbol but since they are unrecognised, the registered political party will get a priority over the independent candidates, provided their candidate mentions their symbols in their nomination papers as well as ask for that particular symbol during the nomination.”

Mr Jyoti Rai said the party has preferred to accept three symbols for the three-tier separately. For the gram panchayat, the party has preferred a table fan as their first symbol, table and ladder as their second and third symbol respectively. Accordingly for the zilla parishad ~ a ceiling fan, drum and a mail van and for the panchayat samiti ~ a standing fan, two leafs and a bud, and a television.

statesman news service