DARJEELING: The first press conference of Baichung Bhutia, Trinamool Congress' Darjeeling candidate for Lok Sabha polls, turned chaotic on Friday with the party's leaders in the Hills voicing their dissent over any possibility of allying with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM).
Everything was under control when North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb addressed the media. But things turned chaotic the moment Baichung addressed GJM president Bimal Gurung as 'daju' (brother) and talked about the good relation they shared and a possible alliance for LS polls. Rajen Tamang, Trinamool's district committee vice-president and the subdivisional president, interrupted the briefing and shouted: "Bhayena yo ramro bhayena, hami morcha sanga mildaimildiuna" (Not good, this is not good, we will never tie up with the GJM).
Tamang went on to say that party activists had to face stiff obstacles to maintain a base in the Hills. "We have been intimidated and even roughed up by GJM supporters. We will never negotiate or tie up with the GJM. Whatever the outcome may be, we will go alone in the election," he asserted with party comrades by his side.
Baichung tried to pacify the leaders saying Trinamool would contest alone in the Hills but would welcome GJM's support. "We are ready at the grass-root level and are confident of winning the election by a handsome margin. However, if GJM supports me then it will be welcomed," said the former footballer, amid the sloganeering supporters gathered at the Tourist Lodge in Darjeeling.
Before the chaos set in, the former footballer pointed to the good relation he shared with Gurung and also his wish to contest the election together. "I personally want the GJM to support me. I share a good relation with 'Bimal daju' and want to fight the election jointly," Baichung said.
On Thursday, the GJM president had said he was disappointed with Baichung for not caring about the good relation they shared. He had also said his party would not support Baichung, as Trinamool had failed to consult him before announcing the name.
When asked to lay out his election agenda for the Hills, the MP aspirant said, "Our party president has already said that Darjeeling needs development. I know that Darjeeling has been neglected and ignored because of which it has witnessed agitations. I feel ushering development will bring peace and stability here which is what everyone wants," said Baichung.
Minister Deb said Baichung was the best possible candidate for the Darjeeling Parliamentary constituency and that Friday's meeting was the first interaction with supporters from the Hills. "Today, we met our party workers from the Hills including district committee members and discussed strategies that need to be adopted for the LS election. We also exchanged views and suggestions, as we cannot afford to waste time," he said.
Hills Trinamool supporters gathered in numbers to interact with Baichung were left disappointed, as the latter along with minister Deb had to rush down to Siliguri to catch a flight to Kolkata to attend the MP candidates' meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.(TOI)
Everything was under control when North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb addressed the media. But things turned chaotic the moment Baichung addressed GJM president Bimal Gurung as 'daju' (brother) and talked about the good relation they shared and a possible alliance for LS polls. Rajen Tamang, Trinamool's district committee vice-president and the subdivisional president, interrupted the briefing and shouted: "Bhayena yo ramro bhayena, hami morcha sanga mildaimildiuna" (Not good, this is not good, we will never tie up with the GJM).
Tamang went on to say that party activists had to face stiff obstacles to maintain a base in the Hills. "We have been intimidated and even roughed up by GJM supporters. We will never negotiate or tie up with the GJM. Whatever the outcome may be, we will go alone in the election," he asserted with party comrades by his side.
Baichung tried to pacify the leaders saying Trinamool would contest alone in the Hills but would welcome GJM's support. "We are ready at the grass-root level and are confident of winning the election by a handsome margin. However, if GJM supports me then it will be welcomed," said the former footballer, amid the sloganeering supporters gathered at the Tourist Lodge in Darjeeling.
Before the chaos set in, the former footballer pointed to the good relation he shared with Gurung and also his wish to contest the election together. "I personally want the GJM to support me. I share a good relation with 'Bimal daju' and want to fight the election jointly," Baichung said.
On Thursday, the GJM president had said he was disappointed with Baichung for not caring about the good relation they shared. He had also said his party would not support Baichung, as Trinamool had failed to consult him before announcing the name.
When asked to lay out his election agenda for the Hills, the MP aspirant said, "Our party president has already said that Darjeeling needs development. I know that Darjeeling has been neglected and ignored because of which it has witnessed agitations. I feel ushering development will bring peace and stability here which is what everyone wants," said Baichung.
Minister Deb said Baichung was the best possible candidate for the Darjeeling Parliamentary constituency and that Friday's meeting was the first interaction with supporters from the Hills. "Today, we met our party workers from the Hills including district committee members and discussed strategies that need to be adopted for the LS election. We also exchanged views and suggestions, as we cannot afford to waste time," he said.
Hills Trinamool supporters gathered in numbers to interact with Baichung were left disappointed, as the latter along with minister Deb had to rush down to Siliguri to catch a flight to Kolkata to attend the MP candidates' meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.(TOI)