Darjeeling candidates walk on thin ice

Darjeeling, Apr 15 :The emergence of Gorkha Janmuti Morcha (GJM) in the poll fray heralded a new political dimension in the Hills, which has been roiled by prolonged agitation of separate state for the Gorkhas in West Bengal.
The three assembly segments--Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong-- will witness the multi-cornered contest on April 18 among the GJM, GNLF, ABGL, BJP, Congress and Left candidates of CPI and CPI(M), who are wooing nearly 6 lakh ethnic voters.
Whilst the Darjeeling segment has five candidates--GJM, GNLF, CPI(M), Cong and the ABGL--Kurseong's seat is being contested by the CPI, GNLF, GJM, Cong, ABGL and GJM while Kalimpong has ABGL, GNLF, GJM, Cong, CPI(M), BJP and an Independent candidates.
The ruling Left Front, headed by the CPI(M), has always found stumbling blocks in the Hills, despite its domination over an odd 9 crore population in the state for the past three decades since 1977.
After years of dormant state, Darjeeling erupted with violent movement in mid-eighties resulting in the formation of Darjeeling Hill Council following a tripartite-accord with the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, chief minister Jyoti Basu with Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghishing.
However, before the August 22 Accord, blood spilled the terrains with at least 1,200 youths being killed in factional fighting, police firing and elimination of the dissidents for three years.    --UNI