Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung today laid to rest all speculations of a possible alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the 16th Lok Sabha election.
This comes after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the name of footballer Bhaichung Bhutia as the party’s candidate from Darjeeling parliamentary constituency.
Speaking today on the sidelines of a ‘janta durbar’ in Darjeeling, the GJM chief said, "They (TMC) should have consulted us before announcing Bhaichung's name as their candidate from Darjeeling. This proves that the TMC is not really sincere about improving relations.”
He went on to allege that the chief minister has betrayed his trust by announcing the footballer's name.
"Sometime back, she (Banerjee) had told me that Bhaichung would be fielded as the TMC candidate from Sikkim and not Darjeeling. But look at what she has done. Not propping a local face indicates the TMC’s ploy to root out the Gorkhaland demand," said Gurung, adding the CPM and Congress were better in the sense that both had fielded local candidates to the Rajya Sabha seat from Darjeeling.
On Bhaichung's decision to contest as the TMC candidate from Darjeeling, the GJM chief rued the footballer’s move had shown disrespect to the good relations they shared.
"He (Bhaichung) should have thought about our relation before giving his consent. He should have contested the election from Sikkim and that would have made more sense. But from Darjeeling he will only become the subject of a joke," quipped Gurung.
The GJM chief also took a dig at the hill TMC leaders and activists saying supporting an outsider tantamount to betraying their primary (statehood) demand.
"I congratulate the hill TMC leaders for giving in their best to establish a base in this region. But supporting Bhaichung, who does not have an iota of idea about the Darjeeling hills, is like leaving their mother," remarked Gurung.
When asked about the GJM’s prospects in this year's election given the present situation in the hills, the GJM leader expressed confidence even as he pointed out that Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri constituencies were more important where the party is hopeful of stymieing the TMC.
"We are not thinking about the Darjeeling seat as we will definitely win it. But
Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar are more important for us as we have a sizeable Nepali voting base there. With our support, Wilson Champramari an independent candidate, and Joseph Munda of the Congress had won from the Nagarkatta and Kalchini seats, respectively in the 2011 assembly election," Gurung asserted.
The GJM chief’s statements clearly indicate his party will not support the TMC for these two seats. Under such a backdrop, the TMC could end up losing the three seats of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, which could strongly undermine the ruling party’s prospects in North Bengal.(EOIC)
This comes after TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday announced the name of footballer Bhaichung Bhutia as the party’s candidate from Darjeeling parliamentary constituency.
Speaking today on the sidelines of a ‘janta durbar’ in Darjeeling, the GJM chief said, "They (TMC) should have consulted us before announcing Bhaichung's name as their candidate from Darjeeling. This proves that the TMC is not really sincere about improving relations.”
He went on to allege that the chief minister has betrayed his trust by announcing the footballer's name.
"Sometime back, she (Banerjee) had told me that Bhaichung would be fielded as the TMC candidate from Sikkim and not Darjeeling. But look at what she has done. Not propping a local face indicates the TMC’s ploy to root out the Gorkhaland demand," said Gurung, adding the CPM and Congress were better in the sense that both had fielded local candidates to the Rajya Sabha seat from Darjeeling.
On Bhaichung's decision to contest as the TMC candidate from Darjeeling, the GJM chief rued the footballer’s move had shown disrespect to the good relations they shared.
"He (Bhaichung) should have thought about our relation before giving his consent. He should have contested the election from Sikkim and that would have made more sense. But from Darjeeling he will only become the subject of a joke," quipped Gurung.
The GJM chief also took a dig at the hill TMC leaders and activists saying supporting an outsider tantamount to betraying their primary (statehood) demand.
"I congratulate the hill TMC leaders for giving in their best to establish a base in this region. But supporting Bhaichung, who does not have an iota of idea about the Darjeeling hills, is like leaving their mother," remarked Gurung.
When asked about the GJM’s prospects in this year's election given the present situation in the hills, the GJM leader expressed confidence even as he pointed out that Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri constituencies were more important where the party is hopeful of stymieing the TMC.
"We are not thinking about the Darjeeling seat as we will definitely win it. But
Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar are more important for us as we have a sizeable Nepali voting base there. With our support, Wilson Champramari an independent candidate, and Joseph Munda of the Congress had won from the Nagarkatta and Kalchini seats, respectively in the 2011 assembly election," Gurung asserted.
The GJM chief’s statements clearly indicate his party will not support the TMC for these two seats. Under such a backdrop, the TMC could end up losing the three seats of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, which could strongly undermine the ruling party’s prospects in North Bengal.(EOIC)