A day after aligning with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, the GJM on
Tuesday dismissed speculation that the candidate for West Bengal's
Darjeeling constituency has been finalised, and said a nominee for
raising the Gorkhas' long-standing demands will be chosen soon.
Gorkha
Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, who discussed election
strategies with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including senior
leader LK Advani, said the candidate for Alipurduar will also be
announced shortly.
"I would like to confirm that no names have
come up for candidature. There are some rumours going around, but
nothing has been finalised.
"We will get a candidate that would raise the long pending demands of
the Gorkhas, the Adivasis and the deprived and destitute people of
Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts," Gurung said on Facebook.
In a
snub to ex-football star Bhaichung Bhutia, who is contesting the polls
on a Trinamool Congress ticket from Darjeeling, the GJM Monday entered
into an alliance with the BJP, asserting it will support their
candidates from Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar Lok Sabha seats.
GJM's support had enabled BJP's Jaswant Singh to bag the Darjeeling seat in 2009.
"We
discussed about the imminent need to consolidate national security in
Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts as it's a geo-politically sensitive
region. We also stressed the need for safety and security for the
Gorkhas living in India," said Gurung about the meeting with BJP
leaders.
BJP national executive member and West Bengal co-observer
Siddharth Nath Singh said the candidates for the seats will be
finalised and announced jointly by the two parties by March 13.