Noted academician and president of the
newly floated Darjeeling-Dooars United Development Foundation, Mahendra P
Lama, filed his nomination today as an Independent candidate, closing
all doors for a tie-up with the BJP-GJM in Lok Sabha election 2014.
As has been seen in the last couple of
days, Lama too arrived with a large entourage of supporters to file his
nomination at the district magistrate office in Darjeeling.
Speaking after submitting his papers,
the DDUDF president said, "I am delighted to file my nomination on
behalf of the hills people. I am sure victory will be ours.”
Leaders and supporters of the Communist
Party of Revolutionary Marxist and the All India Gorkha League, who have
decided to support Lama's candidature, also participated in the silent
rally taken out by the DDUDF.
The GJM had initially snubbed Lama's
appeal for support citing that the latter had announced his candidature
without making any communication. A few days ago, however, GJM president
Bimal Gurung appealed to Lama to forget differences for the greater
cause (of a separate state) and extend support to BJP candidate
Ahluwalia, through a post on a social network page, but this was
rebuffed by the DDUDF president as expected.
Asked to lay out his election campaign
strategies, Lama pointed out the need of the hour was to bring about a
change in people's perceptions.
"Foremost in our six point agenda is the
creation of a separate state by including the Darjeeling and Dooars
regions. I have found that people are deeply frustrated and confused
with the present state of affairs. But I want to tell them to forget all
the past and concentrate on a new future," the DDUDF backed independent
candidate said.
Besides a separate state, other issues
in DDUDF's election manifesto include placing Darjeeling in the North
East Council, ushering in a Panchayati Raj, re-opening of all
international borders for trade activity, boosting of the local economy,
implementing the minimum wage act in tea gardens and bringing the best
educational institutions to develop the future of the youths.
Other Independent candidates who filed
their nominations today were Nima Lama of the Gorkha Rasthriya Congress,
which advocates the merger of Darjeeling with Sikkim, Niranjan Saha of
Aamra Bangali, a Siliguri-based anti-statehood outfit, and Arun Kumar
Agarwal.
BJP-GJM candidate SS Ahluwalia,
meanwhile, already campaigning in the hills, today met the Lepcha
community under the All India Lepcha Association banner in Darjeeling.
The Lepchas have been demanding a Primitive Tribe status since 1997
along with other issues pertaining to the welfare and development of
their community.(EOIC)