A political observer noted that after the GNLF’s announcement, the chances of Bhutia’s winning have increased and the race between him and Ahluwalia has tightened and become tougher further. Under such a setting, the GJM has a window of opportunity whereby it can gain the upper hand by wooing the people on the statehood question.
The winner from the Darjeeling seat is still undecided, but almost all of the electorate from the constituency has a sentimental value attached to the issue of Gorkhaland and though they may profess to support various parties, the statehood issue will be upmost in their psyche. This would mean poll candidates must use every ounce of their intelligence to promote the statehood question during their campaigns if they are to bag considerable votes. In the last LS polls, the BJP, with the support of the GJM, won the election by a huge number of votes by promoting the Gorkhaland issue and the ploy clicked.
Hence, in terms of Darjeeling, the NaMo wave is of little significance compared to the Gorkhaland issue and one can safely say this magic wand still lies with the GJM. By exploiting the sentiment of the hill people, the GJM-BJP candidate may as well end up tops. (EOIC)