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| A view of the Darjeeling hills on a cloudy Monday from Singamari. The GTA polls will be held in the hills on July 29. Picture by Suman Tamang |
Bagdogra, June 25: Bimal Gurung today said the Trinamul Congress would have to walk several miles to create a decent support base in the hills.
He left for Delhi today to meet Union home minister P. Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee.
“Trinamul, which is foraying into the hills now, does not enjoy the support of even one per cent of the entire hill population. During the late eighties, when the DGHC polls were held, the GNLF used to enjoy support of 60 per cent of the people in hills while the CPM had remaining 40 per cent with it. Even then, the CPM could not manage to do anything during the polls,” the Morcha president said outside the Bagdogra airport.
“We, on the other hand, have the support of 99 per cent of the people while the remaining parties, including Trinamul, share the remaining 1 per cent. So, we are not too concerned (about Trinamul’s foray in the hills),” he said.
Gurung, who reiterated that his party had not taken any decision on participation in the GTA polls, said, the Morcha’s decision had nothing to do with the state’s decision. “Whatever the state does for the GTA polls is up to it. We will decide on our part, after contemplating over certain issues and factors. The decision would be announced in due time,” he said.
According to political observers, participating in the polls is a major issue before the party, particularly after Trinamul has started venturing into the hills.
“Though in a low-key manner, Trinamul has initiated a consistent political exercise in the hills, inviting people, including Morcha supporters, to join the party. It is naturally a pertinent question before the Morcha leaders whether they can really abstain from polls,” an observer said.
“Morcha leaders are confident of the people’s support in case the contest is against parties like the ABGL, CPRM or even the CPM as thousands are against these parties.”
“But Trinamul lacks a negative image. Instead, it has a clear and attractive image among people in hills, the primary reason being the six trips by the chief minister to the hills in one year, her announcements and implementation of elaborate projects. This is an important factor which has left the Morcha wondering about the polls,” the source said.
Administrative sources confirmed that at the meeting with Morcha leaders held on June 16, the state made it clear that it will go ahead with the GTA polls. It was announced today that the GTA elections would be held on July 29.
Gurung said the Morcha was yet to decide on the presidential elections. “We will visit Pranab Mukherjee, who is still the Union finance minister, and hold talks with him on certain issues,” Gurung said.
The decision to meet Mukherjee before he resigns as finance minister and Chidambaram, sources said, hints that the Morcha wanted its ties with the Congress to be strengthened, while distancing itself from Trinamul.
“The Morcha resents the Trinamul’s decision to expand base in the hills and might try to get close to the Congress,” said a source. Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, Darjeeling municipality chairman Amar Singh Rai, central committee member P.T. Ola and study forum member R.B Bhujel are accompanying Gurung to New Delhi. “We are likely to stay in Delhi for two-three days and then visit Calcutta to speak with the chief minister. Whatever decision we take on the polls, will be after we finish these visits,” Gurung said.(TT)
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