NEW DELHI, APR 07 -
Most Nepali speaking people in Darjeeling who are demanding for a
separate Gorkhaland state seem to be in a dilemma to choose a candidate
for Lok Sabha seat representing the area. They say it is hard to find a
candidate this time who will genuinely address their demands.
In the previous election, Jaswant Singh of the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) was elected from the district. However, local people said Singh
failed to keep his promise to raise the issue of Gorkhaland state. “The
BJP only talked about separate Gorkhaland in the local level, but it
failed to raise the issue in the Capital,” said Professor Jasyonjan
Pyasi from Kurseong.
He said this is the reason why people in the area are reluctant to vote
for BJP in the upcoming election. The election in the district takes
place April 17.
“I have rarely seen election candidates campaigning in the area. They
only issue press statement from unidentified places,” said IB Rai of
Darjeeling, who advocates for the rights of local Nepali speaking
people.
A total of 13 candidates have filed their nominations from Darjeeling
this time but locals say no canidadate is likely to raise the issue of
Gorkhaland.
After Singh was kicked out of the BJP, the party’s Vice-President SS
Ahluwalia is contesting from Darjeeling with support of Bimal Gurung-led
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), a party which is struggling for a
separate Gorkhaland for long.
Another candidate is football player Baichung Bhutia, who is contesting the polls from Trinamool Congress led by West Bengal
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Bhutiya is backed by Subas Ghising-led
Gorkha Rastriya Mukti Morcha, which is advocating against separate
Gorkhaland.
Professor Mahendra P Lama is contesting as an independent candidate.
Lama is in favour of separate Gorkhaland. He is busy in election
campaigns. He is supported by the Communist Party of Revolutionary
Marxists and Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh. “I am visiting people at their
doorsteps with a promise to work for the rights and security of all
mountain residents and address the demands of a separate state and
identity,” he said. Man Prasad Subba of Darjeeling said Nepali speaking
people in the area are divided over the main agenda due to ‘political
conflict’. Rai considers Lama as a ‘local and educated’ candidate.
He said it could be better if Lama is backed by any strong party.
Journalist Birkha Khadka said voters are confused due to ‘irrational
politics’. He said he supports Lama, believing only locals can fight for
their rights.
Posted on: 2014-04-07 09:00 by Devendra Bhattarai