Kolkata: Even before the first vote for electing 45 members of Gorkha Territorial Authority (GTA) is to be cast, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) seems to have got 12 seats in its kitty.
On Monday (July 9), which was the last day for filing nominations, no one except the GJM nominees filed their papers in nine seats of Darjeeling and three seats of Kalimpong. After the last day for withdrawal of nomination, 12 GJM candidates are expected to be declared “elected unopposed”.
All the other hill parties have boycotted the July 29 polls alleging coercion and threats carried out by GJM cadres against the opposition. Only Trinamool Congress and CPM have decided to field their candidates and that too only in a handful of seats. The Trinamool will be contesting in 18 seats, while the CPM in 13 seats.
“We have boycotted the election for a reason. There is no democracy in the hills. What kind of election we will expect when 12 of the 45 seats go uncontested. We are receiving information that GJM leaders are trying to buy candidates of CPM and Trinamool who may withdraw their nomination on July 12. If this happens, then more seats will go uncontested and in favour of the GJM,” said Laxman Prasad, general secretary of ABGL.
Another hill party, CPRM, also expressed similar concern. Gobind Chetri, secretary of the outfit, said the election was nothing more than a circus. “What kind of election is this where nobody other than the GJM and Trinamool people are able to file their nominations. The offices where the nominations are being filed remained surrounded by GJM people. They have created an environment of fear and panic in the area. But the local administration is sitting idle,” Chetri said.
The election for the GTA is being held after the state government, the Centre and the GJM signed a tripartite agreement paving the way for the setting up of a new body for governing hills in Darjeeling district by replacing the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). A total of 122 candidates have filed their nominations for the latest poll. The elections for such local body is taking place in the hills after almost a decade. The results will be declared on August 2 and the GTA has to be constituted by August 10.
On Monday (July 9), which was the last day for filing nominations, no one except the GJM nominees filed their papers in nine seats of Darjeeling and three seats of Kalimpong. After the last day for withdrawal of nomination, 12 GJM candidates are expected to be declared “elected unopposed”.
All the other hill parties have boycotted the July 29 polls alleging coercion and threats carried out by GJM cadres against the opposition. Only Trinamool Congress and CPM have decided to field their candidates and that too only in a handful of seats. The Trinamool will be contesting in 18 seats, while the CPM in 13 seats.
“We have boycotted the election for a reason. There is no democracy in the hills. What kind of election we will expect when 12 of the 45 seats go uncontested. We are receiving information that GJM leaders are trying to buy candidates of CPM and Trinamool who may withdraw their nomination on July 12. If this happens, then more seats will go uncontested and in favour of the GJM,” said Laxman Prasad, general secretary of ABGL.
Another hill party, CPRM, also expressed similar concern. Gobind Chetri, secretary of the outfit, said the election was nothing more than a circus. “What kind of election is this where nobody other than the GJM and Trinamool people are able to file their nominations. The offices where the nominations are being filed remained surrounded by GJM people. They have created an environment of fear and panic in the area. But the local administration is sitting idle,” Chetri said.
The election for the GTA is being held after the state government, the Centre and the GJM signed a tripartite agreement paving the way for the setting up of a new body for governing hills in Darjeeling district by replacing the earlier Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). A total of 122 candidates have filed their nominations for the latest poll. The elections for such local body is taking place in the hills after almost a decade. The results will be declared on August 2 and the GTA has to be constituted by August 10.
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