Morcha Dooars poll signal to Trinamul - Gurung okay for talks with ruling party but not Cong

Darjeeling, June 12: Bimal Gurung today said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha was “open for talks” with the Trinamul Congress but categorically ruled out any understanding with the Congress in the panchayat elections in the Dooars. Some observers in the hills said Gurung may not want to ruffle Trinamul’s feathers as he needs the state government’s co-operation to settle several demands of the hill people. “Apart from the smooth functioning of the GTA, certain demands of the Morcha such as withdrawal of police cases against their supporters and waiving sales tax dues need the state government’s clearance. The party does not want to antagonise Mamata Banerjee,” said an observer. The Morcha and John Barla’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) are contesting the polls as allies in the Dooars. When Barla had earlier talked about tying up with Trinamul in non-tea garden areas in the Dooars, the Morcha opposed the move. Barla and Trinamul, however, have worked out a pre-poll understanding. Today Gurung said: “We have no problems with the JMM’s decision. They are in an alliance with us but then they are an independent entity also. If they want to tie up with the Trinamul also, it’s their decision.” Asked about the Morcha’s stand on Trinamul, Gurung said: “What is the harm in talking to Trinamul? We are open for talks with them.” He, however, ruled out talks with other parties such as the Congress and the CPM. When asked about the possibility of any tie-up with the Congress, Gurung said: “No.” There is hardly scope of an alliance with the Congress before the panchayat elections as today was the last day to file nominations in the Dooars. Gurung, who had gone to meet governor M.K. Narayanan at the Raj Bhavan here, did not clarify if he was talking about any post-election understanding. Morcha sources said a tie-up with Trinamul would not be on seat-sharing but on post-election matters. “However, talks could be on helping each other in taking control of gram panchayats, panchayat samitis and the zilla parishad,” said a source.