TMC's hill poll test

Darjeeling: The Trinamul Congress said on Monday that it had backed six candidates in elections to the managing committee of Vidyasagar Higher Secondary School in Bijanbari to ensure that democratic process started in the hills.

Binay Tamang's Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed candidates won all six seats in the polls on Sunday.

Sharda Subba, in-charge of Trinamul's Darjeeling subdivision committee, said: "After the six candidates (backed by the Morcha) filed their nominations, some guardians wanted to contests against them and so, we decided to back them. However, we did not use the party flag or canvass for the candidates. We only stood beside them to ensure that they could participate in the elections. We wanted backed them to ensure that democratic process starts in the hills."

The victory is being considered significant for Binay Tamang as this was the first electoral victory for the party after he took charge in November last year.

Subba said: "In the past, no elections could be held in the school as the candidates had won uncontested but this time some guardians wanted to fight the elections and we were for their wishes."

But sources said the elections were keenly contested with Morcha and Trinamul leaders present at the venue to hear the results. At one time, there were arguments between leaders of the two parties.

The managing committee consists of 14 members, of whom six are elected as guardians' representatives. The remaining members are the headmaster, assistant headmaster, three representatives of the teachers, a representative from non-teaching staffs, a nominee of the district inspector of school and a representative of a "donor".

Subba, today said: "We extend our best wishes to all the winning candidates and also to the guardians who took part in the election process."

Of the 324 registered voters, 213 guardians cast their votes on Sunday.

The Telegraph