Hills erupt with joy after GJM’s historic win

Mukesh Sharma: A moment of great pride and joy for the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) as their dream for a historic win in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections has been finally accomplished today. The hills erupted with joy and celebrations soon followed, after the declaration of the election results respectively at the Gorkha Ranga Manch Bhawan, Darjeeling, St Alphonsus School, Kurseong and Scottish Universities Mission Institution (SUMI), Kalimpong, and the win of the GJM was confirmed.The elections was said to be one sided for the 16 Constituencies except for the 41 no Nimbong- Gitabling Constituency of Kalimpong. The GJM candidate, Kalyan Dewan was confident about his win while in the other hand the independent candidate, Sanchabir Subba also left no stone unturned to win the elections. Subba, a former GJM leader who dared to stand against his own party proved to be a tough competition for Dewan. However, the GJM selected Dewan had a close win over Subba with a margin of 677 votes. During the 1st phase Subba led with 3051 votes against Dewan’s 1917. Whereas, during the 2nd phase of the vote count, Subba could acquire only 361 votes while Dewan swarmed up with 2172 votes. Hence, Dewan managed to be victorious with 4095 votes against Subba with 3418 votes. The Trinamool (TMC) candidate, Bruno Lepcha from the same Constituency could gather only 264 votes in his vote bank.The elections for the leftover 16 Constituencies were just a mere formality and moreover a conformation to the GJM’s victory. The GJM candidates who contributed to the win are as follows- Under Darjeeling sub division, Darjeeling Sadar 4 Constituency, Taranga Pandit (6370 votes) against TMC’s Gopal Singh (790 votes), Ghoom Jorebungalow Constituency, PT Ola (9692 votes) against TMC candidate Milan Dukpa (957 votes), Chungthung Marybong Tamsang Constituency, Tilak Chand Roka (9228 votes) against TMC candidate Manjit Subba (639 votes) and Pokhraibong Chamung Constituency, Dipen Malay (8573 votes) against TMC candidate Dhan Bahadur Mukhia (237 votes).Likewise under Kurseong sub division the winners are, Seeyok Gopaldhara OkaytiConstituency Phubi Rai (8259 votes) against TMC candidate Anil Chettri (477 votes), Mirik Thurbo Duptin Constituency, Arun Ghising (6918 voters) against TMC candidate Brishas Subba (715 votes), Soureni Constituency, Arun Singhji (8992) against TMC candidate Rajesh Chettri (1706) and Sukuna Panighatta Constituency, Champa Biwar (9836 votes) against Rajen Mukhia (1526 votes).Similarly under the Kalimpong sub division the winners are, 33 no Chibo- Tashiding Constituency, Kazim Tshering Bhutia (7578 votes) against TMC candidate, Mahendra Gajmer (923 votes), Kalpana Tamang from 37 no Algarah- Dalapchand (8353 votes)  against Suk Bahadur Subba (896 votes), 38 no Lava- Lingsey, Chandra Prasad Sharma  (5943 votes) against TMC candidate CP Sharma (343 votes), 40 no Pedong  Constituency, Dawa Lepcha (7737 votes) against TMC’s Chewang Bhutia (324 votes),  42 no Relli- Samthar Constituency Dr RB Bhujel (9620 votes) against TMC’s Michael  Lingdamo (600 votes), 43 no Gorubathan, Chandra Yonzon (14, 242 votes) against  TMC’s Prem Adhikari (1057 votes), 44 no Samsing- Kumai Constituency, Samuel Gurung  (6285 votes) against TMC’s Ugen Sherpa (382 votes) and 45 no Rogo- Jaldhaka- Todey  Constituency, Lopsang Lama (8360 seats) against TMC’s Pem Dorjee Moktan (413  votes).

The Election Officers at the respective vote count centers handed over the winning
certificates after the declaration of the results. All the GJM candidates credited
the GJM Chief, Bimal Gurung and the public for their wins.