Kurseong/Siliguri, 18 February: The Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) today said it will not support
Independent candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from the Darjeeling
constituency, Mahendra P Lama, while it suspended one of its prominent
intellectual leaders, a member of the party's think tank, P Arjun, from
the party for throwing
his weight behind the academic in defiance of the party line.
Talking to reporters in Kurseong, GJMM general secretary, Roshan Giri said his party has decided to suspend its study forum member, Mr Arjun for his move to lend support to Mr Lama.
Mr Giri was in the town to attend to a Kurseong Court-related cases pertaining to the Gorkhaland stir the party had launched previously.
Mr Giri said Mr Arjun had attended Mr Lama's press conference in Siliguri yesterday without the prior consent of the party.
Mr Giri also said his party has decided not to support Mr Lama in the general elections under any circumstances.
Asked if his party will support Trinamul Congress candidate for the Darjeeling constituency, Mr Giri said nothing has been decided as yet on whether to field the GJMM’s own candidate or support others.
“But our stand is clear on Mr Lama's candidature. We would not support him," he added.
Mr Lama, a noted academician and former Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University aside from being a member of the national security advisory committee, is in the fray from Darjeeling under the banner of an apolitical organisation, Darjeeling Dooars United Development Forum.
In Siliguri, Dr Lama said it is up to GJMM to support him or not. “We have approached all the political parties, including GJMM, seeking their support. But it is up to them to take a decision,” Dr Lama said on the sidelines of a public meeting he held in Siliguri. He said some political parties have informed him that they would clear the air after the notification for the election is issued. "I would win," he asserted.
Asked whether GJMM support would have been crucial for his win, Mr Lama said: “This is a hypothetical question. Let the elections come and let the results be out.”
Mr Arjun, meanwhile, said he has not received the official suspension letter from GJMM. “I will continue throwing my weight behind Mr Lama, come what may,” he said defiantly.
“I wonder whether the decision to suspend him has been approved by the executive committee or the central committee of the party. I will comment on this only after I receive the official letter, he said.
“I have a good rapport with the party chief, Bimal Gurung. However, I am not answerable to the party. The suspension does not mean expulsion," he added.(SNS)
his weight behind the academic in defiance of the party line.
Talking to reporters in Kurseong, GJMM general secretary, Roshan Giri said his party has decided to suspend its study forum member, Mr Arjun for his move to lend support to Mr Lama.
Mr Giri was in the town to attend to a Kurseong Court-related cases pertaining to the Gorkhaland stir the party had launched previously.
Mr Giri said Mr Arjun had attended Mr Lama's press conference in Siliguri yesterday without the prior consent of the party.
Mr Giri also said his party has decided not to support Mr Lama in the general elections under any circumstances.
Asked if his party will support Trinamul Congress candidate for the Darjeeling constituency, Mr Giri said nothing has been decided as yet on whether to field the GJMM’s own candidate or support others.
“But our stand is clear on Mr Lama's candidature. We would not support him," he added.
Mr Lama, a noted academician and former Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University aside from being a member of the national security advisory committee, is in the fray from Darjeeling under the banner of an apolitical organisation, Darjeeling Dooars United Development Forum.
In Siliguri, Dr Lama said it is up to GJMM to support him or not. “We have approached all the political parties, including GJMM, seeking their support. But it is up to them to take a decision,” Dr Lama said on the sidelines of a public meeting he held in Siliguri. He said some political parties have informed him that they would clear the air after the notification for the election is issued. "I would win," he asserted.
Asked whether GJMM support would have been crucial for his win, Mr Lama said: “This is a hypothetical question. Let the elections come and let the results be out.”
Mr Arjun, meanwhile, said he has not received the official suspension letter from GJMM. “I will continue throwing my weight behind Mr Lama, come what may,” he said defiantly.
“I wonder whether the decision to suspend him has been approved by the executive committee or the central committee of the party. I will comment on this only after I receive the official letter, he said.
“I have a good rapport with the party chief, Bimal Gurung. However, I am not answerable to the party. The suspension does not mean expulsion," he added.(SNS)