After securing formal approval of the party high command, the hill Trinamool Congress (TMC) today held its first district convention in Kalimpong. Leaders of the TMC regional unit, which functioned on ad-hoc basis before receiving approval a few days ago, discussed the strategy for the general elections.
Although TMC general secretary Mukul Roy was not present as scheduled, state food and supply minister Jyotipriya Mallick attended the meeting. Kolkata Municipality councilor Dr. Shantanu Sen represented Roy. Apart from the TMC leaders from the plains, the meeting saw the presence of hill leaders including Darjeeling district committee president Rajen Mukhia, vice-president Gopal Chettri, secretary Binny Sharma, Pravin Rahapal, NB Khawas, youth wing president Chewang Bhutia and Nanita Gautam. While the leaders from Kolkata urged their regional counterparts to prepare for the LS polls in an organised manner, the latter requested the party high command to properly evaluate the sincere efforts of party workers here.
Mallick praised the hill TMC and said it has gained strength in the region. He said an MR shop will be set up in each tea garden for supply of rations even when the gardens are closed. The minister concluded by stressing Bengal will remain undivided. “The state government wants to work in coordination with the GTA for peace and development. But we won’t allow separation of Darjeeling from Bengal,” he asserted. Meanwhile, Shantanu Sen claimed the TMC has established itself as a party that can influence national level politics. He said: “What can be the outcome of supporting or opposing the TMC has been exemplified by the situation of the Congress at the Centre and in Bengal.”
Rajen Mukhia urged the party high command to value the contributions of the hill TMC instead of looking at it as a “check and balance” against the GJM. He said, “We formed the hill TMC by risking our lives during the political turmoil here. The party high command therefore, should not treat us as a check and balance entity.” Raising the demand for a native candidate in the polls, Mukhia said: “The Trinamool should have its own candidate irrespective of the probabilities of a GJM backing. But the candidate should not be from Delhi or Kolkata. We are optimistic about our leader Mamata Banerjee giving us a son-of-the-soil candidate.”
Source:EOI
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| Jyotipriya Mallick addressing the hill TMC convention in Kalimpong. |
Mallick praised the hill TMC and said it has gained strength in the region. He said an MR shop will be set up in each tea garden for supply of rations even when the gardens are closed. The minister concluded by stressing Bengal will remain undivided. “The state government wants to work in coordination with the GTA for peace and development. But we won’t allow separation of Darjeeling from Bengal,” he asserted. Meanwhile, Shantanu Sen claimed the TMC has established itself as a party that can influence national level politics. He said: “What can be the outcome of supporting or opposing the TMC has been exemplified by the situation of the Congress at the Centre and in Bengal.”
Rajen Mukhia urged the party high command to value the contributions of the hill TMC instead of looking at it as a “check and balance” against the GJM. He said, “We formed the hill TMC by risking our lives during the political turmoil here. The party high command therefore, should not treat us as a check and balance entity.” Raising the demand for a native candidate in the polls, Mukhia said: “The Trinamool should have its own candidate irrespective of the probabilities of a GJM backing. But the candidate should not be from Delhi or Kolkata. We are optimistic about our leader Mamata Banerjee giving us a son-of-the-soil candidate.”
Source:EOI
Report by:
Pradip Lohagun
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