The GJM will organise a massive meeting in Sukna on March 30 for BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia, who will be addressing his first-ever public meeting in the hills, although he has already started interacting with people in indoor meetings.
In a press release, GJM assistant secretary Binay Tamang confirmed his party will hold a public meeting in Sukna and president Bimal Gurung is also expected to attend it.
Similarly, the CPM will bring party heavyweight and politburo member Sitaram Yechury to Darjeeling on April 12.
"We have invited Yechury to address a public meeting in Darjeeling on April 12 as part of our campaign for candidate Saman Pathak," said CPM district secretariat member KB Wattar.
The CPM will also hold a road show on April 1 in Darjeeling and a public meeting on April 5 that Pathak will address. Another public meeting will be organised on April 3 at Kaijaley.
"It is important to make people aware of the dangers of the TMC coming to power for the second time. There will be 'tanasahi' and 'atyachar' if the TMC wins," warned Wattar.
Speaking about the party's election agenda for the hills, the CPM district secretariat member said, "For the all-round development and security of the Gorkhas across the country, we advocate for regional authority - which is like a state within a state - and granting of linguistic minority status to the Darjeeling hills. As for a separate Gorkha state, it will not benefit all Gorkhas residing across the length and breadth of the country and will be restricted to the hills only," Wattar said.
Today being the last day for filing nominations, four independent candidates - Niranjan Saha, Rabindra Roy Basunia, Lalit Singh and Sunil Pandit, all from Siliguri, submitted their papers with the returning officer in Darjeeling. With this, a total of 13 candidates have filed their nominations from the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency. (EOIC)