To revive the bonhomie as well as to appease the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the Trinamool Congress may not field any candidate in the upcoming rural polls, believe observers here.
This observation appears logical given the statement of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling on July 17 of her desire for the people’s love and not their votes. Hence, in the upcoming panchayat polls in the hills, the TMC may not participate and even if it does, it may form an alliance with the GJM.
The observers also pointed out that Banerjee, to ensure relations with the GJM remain at their cordial best, withdrew TMC candidates in the last minute during the first GTA elections. This endeavour to maintain good ties with the hill dispensation had even earned the angst of TMC supporters in the hills, they said. With the main threat to its authority gone, the GJM could easily grab all the 45 seats of the GTA. The observers believe this scenario may repeat in the forthcoming rural elections as has been indicated by the chief minister.
They added the TMC-led state government and the GJM have been at odds on several occasions, with one outcome being the clean sweep ensured by BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat as he had had the backing of the GJM. As such an outcome proved inimical to the state government, it is trying to find ways to keep the GJM happy. Therefore, after having tested the election waters of Darjeeling despite fielding a candidate of the stature of Bhaichung Bhutia, the TMC has found it prudent to let the GJM fight elections in the hills on its own as this would benefit the TMC in the long run.
However, senior hill TMC leader NB Khawas said as no election is to take place anytime soon, the chief minister might have said she did not come here to seek votes and was speaking in the capacity of the leader of the state. When the time comes, the hill TMC will definitely contest in any election in the hills, he remarked.
Source: EOI
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| TMC may not field candidate in the hills |
The observers also pointed out that Banerjee, to ensure relations with the GJM remain at their cordial best, withdrew TMC candidates in the last minute during the first GTA elections. This endeavour to maintain good ties with the hill dispensation had even earned the angst of TMC supporters in the hills, they said. With the main threat to its authority gone, the GJM could easily grab all the 45 seats of the GTA. The observers believe this scenario may repeat in the forthcoming rural elections as has been indicated by the chief minister.
They added the TMC-led state government and the GJM have been at odds on several occasions, with one outcome being the clean sweep ensured by BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat as he had had the backing of the GJM. As such an outcome proved inimical to the state government, it is trying to find ways to keep the GJM happy. Therefore, after having tested the election waters of Darjeeling despite fielding a candidate of the stature of Bhaichung Bhutia, the TMC has found it prudent to let the GJM fight elections in the hills on its own as this would benefit the TMC in the long run.
However, senior hill TMC leader NB Khawas said as no election is to take place anytime soon, the chief minister might have said she did not come here to seek votes and was speaking in the capacity of the leader of the state. When the time comes, the hill TMC will definitely contest in any election in the hills, he remarked.
Source: EOI
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