Tara Sundas of the CPM to contest next month’s civic elections

Tara Sundas at the media conference in Darjeeling. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling,TT, Nov. 9: Tara Sundas of the CPM today announced that he would contest next month’s civic elections though his party has not taken the final decision to fight the polls, an indication that the Opposition outfits have failed to select consensus candidates.

The CPM has been trying to bring the parties opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha together in an attempt to use the civic elections as a platform to create some political space for the Opposition. “Yes, we are taking a lead in consolidating the anti-Morcha parties. Winning or losing the election is not important for us but we want to use this election to initiate a process where other political parties can resume their activities and bring in some resemblance of normality,” said Saman Pathak, the CPM Rajya Sabha member from Darjeeling.

However, the CPM effort seems to be hitting too many hurdles. CPM leaders admitted in private that the CPRM decision not to contest the elections has upset their equation.

Pathak had taken the initiative to hold a meeting with the ABGL, the CPRM and the Congress leaders. But after the meeting, the district Congress threatened to take action against its leader Nakhul Chandra Chhetri for attending the discussion without its nod.

Today, only the ABGL turned up for an “informal” interaction with the CPM. In Darjeeling, Sundas told a media conference that he would contest from Kalimpong’s ward 10. “If the party decides to contest the elections, I will be their official candidate but if they don’t then I can always contest as an Independent,” said Sundas.

The fact that Sundas announced his decision in the presence of Pathak suggests that the CPM will ultimately field its candidates in select wards.

One CPM leader admitted in private that “they are finding it difficult to get suitable candidates” for the civic elections in the hills to be held for the first time in seven years.

The CPM has said it would announce its official stand a few days later while the ABGL will wait till November 14, a day before the last date of filing nominations.

The Morcha, on the other hand, has almost completed finalising its candidates. Amar Singh Rai, a former vice-principal of Loreto College will be projected as the chairperson of the Darjeeling municipality.