Trinamul campaign in hills

VIVEK CHHETRI
Darjeeling, July 26: Trinamul Congress leaders in the hills are conducting low-key campaigns in their constituencies despite party chief Mamata Banerjee’s announcement that they will “withdraw” from the GTA elections scheduled to be held on July 29.

At least three of the 17 candidates that Trinamul had fielded have told the Metro that they have decided to have polling agents in their booths.

Milan Dukpa, the Trinamul candidate from Ghoom-Jorebunglow in Darjeeling said: “Since our party symbol will be on the ballot papers, our supporters will definitely cast their votes (in our favour). Many of them have been calling me and I am sending them text messages too (as a means of campaigning). They are also organising closed door meetings which I am attending, although they (Morcha) are keeping tabs on my movement.”

Asked if he would be fielding polling agents, Dukpa said: “In my constituency there are 18 booths for which I will need 36 polling agents. I am trying my best to have polling agents in all the booths. We do not want to leave without giving Morcha a proper takkar (fight). If we win, we will be happy to resign if our party high command says. But we definitely want to give Morcha a fight.”

Dukpa would be taking on Morcha candidate P.T. Ola.

“We are confident of doing well in Gorubathan and Algara-Dalapchand in Kalimpong subdivision. There are 28 booths in Gorubathan and 16 in Algara-Dalapchand and we will field polling agents in all the booths,” said a Trinamul leader from Kalimpong, who is also a member of the party’s district committee.

Trinamul leaders are counting on the support of the anti-Morcha outfits like the GNLF, CPRM and the ABGL who have not fielded candidates.

“If we can consolidate the anti-Morcha votes and given the general feeling of being let down by the Morcha, (by accepting the GTA instead of carrying on the statehood agitation) we expect to do well in many seats. There are many in the Morcha who are not happy with the official candidates,” said a Trinamul leader.

Dipen Mallay, the Morcha candidate from Pokhriabong-Chamong, will not be able to cast his vote in the GTA polls. Mallay is an accused in ABGL leader Madan Tamang’s murder case and lodged in a correctional home. The sub-section 5 of Section 11 of the GTA Act states that anyone in police custody, barring those arrested under preventive detention, will not be allowed to vote in the GTA elections.