Siliguri/Jalpaiguri: The Binay Tamang lobby of the Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha has not fielded candidates in the Dooars for the rural
polls and supported Trinamul despite his declarations to put up nominees
in some seats.
"The decision (to contest), however, could not be implemented
because it came just ahead of the nominations. By then Trinamul leaders
had finalised candidates in almost all seats in all three (panchayat)
tiers. In fact, in some seats, there are multiple candidates, all of
whom claim to have been fielded by the party," said a Morcha leader in
the Dooars.
In such a situation, he said it was quite a tough task for the
Morcha to select seats where Trinamul would withdraw so that the hill
party can field candidates. Most important, local Trinamul leaders and
their candidates had to be persuaded.
As a result of the problems, Morcha party leaders have decided
to go by Tamang's decision -but only partially. "We will support
Trinamul candidates across the Dooars as it has been decided by our
central leaders. But the nomination process has already ended and there
is no more time for us to field candidates," added the leader.
Sources, however, maintained that the Bimal Gurung lobby of Morcha -
its presence can still be felt in some locations of the Dooars and
particularly in the eastern part in Alipurduar district - has fielded
candidates in some seats.
Leaders of the Gurung lobby have, however, gone ahead with
their "old ally" BJP and their candidates are contesting on the BJP
symbol, said sources.
The absence of candidates of the Tamang lobby indicates that
the current Morcha chief is more focussed on the hills observers said.
"Ever since Binay Tamang took over reins of the party in his
hand, there has been no major political activity in the Terai and
Dooars, where Morcha used to have considerable support. This has left
party workers and leaders confused. Many have defected to Trinamul. His
decision to support Trinamul in the rural polls, followed by the fact
that hardly any candidate has been fielded by his lobby, indicates that
he is more focussed on the hills," said one observer.
Morcha supporters in the Terai are confused. "No political
programme has been taken up by the party in the Terai, particularly in
rural areas of the Siliguri sub-division, except a public meeting Tamang
had held in Sukna. We are not sure whether the leadership is interested
in expanding in the Terai," said a senior Morcha worker in Naxalbari.
The Telegraph