CPM launches hill campaign for Wattar

Morcha’s Kalimpong candidate Harka Bahadur Chhetri addresses a meeting at Gorubathan on Monday. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Darjeeling, April 11: The CPM today organised a roadshow in Darjeeling and shouted slogans in favour of democracy and restoration of peace without fear, barely 20 meters from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s town office.

For the CPM, this very act seems to be its victory in the elections. Finding a toehold in the hills has always been an arduous task for a party, which is against Gorkhaland — a fact echoed even by the Darjeeling CPM candidate K.B. Wattar.

“In the past all pro-Gorkhaland parties would gang-up against us. We do realise that as Gorkhaland is an emotive issue, our slogans on peace, democracy and development always get swept away,” said Wattar. He admitted that the CPM found it difficult to get agents for the party in polling booths in certain pockets of Darjeeling.

Addressing the media after holding the roadshow with 40-odd supporters, a beaming Wattar said: “Courtesy of the election commission, such an atmosphere (where the CPM would be ostracised by all political parties) is not here this time.”

The model code of conduct has provided the CPM leaders with an opportunity to freely move across the hills to spread its message and Wattar did not lose an opportunity to make people see reason in the party’s stand.

“Yes, Gorkhaland is a sentiment but the hill people must realise that this is not an election for Gorkhaland. Telangana has not yet been carved out, though the state Assembly has adopted a resolution. The Bengal Assembly has only passed a resolution that called for the conferment of the Sixth Schedule status on the hills. We are in favour of a constitutionally recognised autonomy for the hills,” said Wattar.

Taking the argument forward, the CPM candidate said: “Even in Gorkhaland, a mazdoor will remain a mazdoor. We are saying Gorkhaland can be equated to a five year old asking for Rs 1 lakh from his father. There are enough parties who are asking for Gorkhaland but there is none to give it.”

The CPM seems to have boosted the morale of its supporters by sending leaders to the hills, but there are still fears over the post-poll scenario.

“The war of words between the Morcha and the GNLF does not augur well for the hills. There could be bloodbath and the administrations should ensure enough security even after the polls. There can be peace in Darjeeling only if we win the elections,” said Wattar.

Any conflict between the two major parties in the hills would mean that even the CPM supporters could get embroiled in the chaos. When the Morcha ousted the GNLF in 2007, the CPM could not open its office in Darjeeling for more than a year.

CPM leaders believe the support it has garnered in this election could be wiped off if there is trouble in the hills.

Heart in heart, the CPM would know that their present victory would get an icing if they can cross the figure of 14,300, which is the number of votes cast in favour of Wattar in Darjeeling in the last Assembly elections.