The Jana Andolan Party, which is a little over a year old, is trying
to place itself as a "party with a difference" in the hills. However, in
the run up to the civic polls, indications are clear that its sphere of
influence has not gone beyond Kalimpong.
In some innovative moves, the JAP has started a practice of doing
away with the concept of having leaders on dais. All JAP leaders stay
with their supporters and only the speaker takes the dais during his
turn to speak. This, the JAP maintains, is to send a message that hero
worshipping must stop in hill politics.
Harka Bahadur Chhetri's party also held elections
for most of its posts. JAP supporters are known to clean walls off
posters after events are over.
They have protested at places like Siliguri, Calcutta and Delhi and
the party has come up with innovative ideas for every programme.
However, the "party with a difference" has not made much difference outside Kalimpong.
Apart from Kalimpong, the JAP has not been able to field candidates in all wards of the other three civic bodies.
The JAP has fielded candidates in five of 32 wards in Darjeeling, six out of 20 in Kurseong and six out of nine in Mirik.
Amar Lama, a bureau member of the JAP, admits that its influence has
been predominantly limited to Kalimpong. "Outside Kalimpong, a
high-pitched battle revolving around money power is being fought between
the Morcha and Trinamul and this is where we lost out," said Lama.
The leader also admitted that the JAP's perceived closeness to
Trinamul had cost the party. "We were projected as a B-team of Trinamul
by our opponents. This is also a reason for our failure to expand our
organisation beyond Kalimpong," said Lama.
In this election, the JAP refused to contest the election as an ally
of Trinamul. In the last Assembly election, the JAP, Trinamul and the
GNLF were allies.
On Thursday, Chhetri also decided to resign as the vice-chairman of
North Bengal Development Council. The resignation is a clear example of
the JAP intention to work differently now.
"One has to be patient in politics at times. We are slowly working on
our organisational strength and we are confident that we will make a
difference," said Lama.(TT)
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