The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha threatened dissidents for the municipality elections in Mirik

Darjeeling, Nov. 16: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today threatened to expel eight dissidents who had filed nominations against the official party candidates for the municipality elections in Mirik.

In two wards, the Morcha candidates have to fight two Independents each if they don’t withdraw the nominations by November 18, the last date for doing so.

Just when the Morcha was looking to take control of all four hill municipalities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik uncontested since the other parties have boycotted the elections, the dissidents’ move has come as an embarrassment.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri was in Mirik today to ask the dissidents to withdraw their nominations. “We have told them to withdraw their nominations against the official party candidates by November 18, failing which they will be expelled,” Giri said over the phone from Mirik.

Last week, Morcha president Bimal Gurung had said in a warning that those who had not been given party tickets as official candidates should not file nominations as Independents. He had said rebels would be expelled and would not be taken back in the party even if they won the election. None of the dissidents spoke to the media.

In the nine-seat municipality, Pema Tshering Bhutia has decided to take on the vice-president of the Morcha’s Mirik Mahakuma Committee, Arun Ghisingh, in ward 2. Two Independents Roshan Tamang and Sunil Bomzom are contesting against L.B. Rai, a central committee member and a former chairperson of the Mirik municipality, in ward 7.

This time, too, Rai is tipped to be the Morcha candidate for the chairperson’s post. The other Independents include Saraswati Tamang (ward 3), Krishna Sarki (ward 8) and Bijay Tamang (ward 9). Bijay Tamang and Nima Singh Tamang have both filed nominations as Independents in ward 6.

None has filed nominations against the Morcha candidates in wards 1, 4 and 5 in Mirik. The Morcha’s candidates who are likely to win uncontested from these three wards are Manikala Ghalay, Mala Subba and Barun Subba.

This development in Mirik also means that the formation of the municipal boards in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong — where none has filed nominations against the Morcha — could be delayed by almost a month.

District magistrate Saumitra Mohan said if there was scope of contest even in a single ward in any of the four hill municipalities, no board will be formed till the December 11 elections are over.

“In such a scenario, the boards will be formed only after the election process is complete,” said Mohan.

Officially, the administration can declare the Morcha candidates winners in seats where there are no other contestants only after the last day of withdrawal of nominations.
TT