Understanding Revised by Revisiting 'List Relief for Harka'

Writes: Binu Sundas

A very interesting news story has been posted in darjeelintimes.com titled "List relief for Harka." It states that the list of candidates declared by the TMC does not, anymore, mention Dr. Chettri of JAP as their candidate from Kalimpong constituency. However, in the same pages of the news portal you can also see how Mamata Banerjee seeks support for her party's candidates from Kurseong and Darjeeling and her party supported candidate from Kalimpong, Dr Chettri. What is to be drawn from this? Anyone who is politically aware and erudite can only understand that it is a different way of saying that Dr Chettri is the candidate for Mamata Banerjee from Kalimpong. It is not the question of JAP or Dr Chettri, but it is the question of do we support who supports our opponent, that is Dr Chettri/JAP, or who is supported by our opponent that again is Dr Chettri/JAP.

JAP is a classic example of the 'Foxes' of Pareto. I call them 'foxes' because one of the characteristic of the 'foxes' is the inability to take decisive action and decisions. This is precisely what is going to happen to those of JAP as they will be dictated by DIDI and every decision will have approval of DIDI. They will either take decisions only with the approval from DIDI or she will take all decisions on their behalf. It will also be of interest to all the people of the hills to see if JAP will field its candidate in other constituencies against the TMC or will support those fielded by TMC. If they do not field their candidates against those of TMC then Dr Chettri's name being listed out of the list or included does not mean anything. It will be meaningless to the people, as it will be crystal clear to all, that JAP and TMC are playing a 'fixed' game to make sure that the party keeping alive the demand of Gorkhaland, GJMM, loses no matter what and also the demand.

Harka Bahadur Chettri

What is however, pertinent for the people of the hills and all the Gorkhaland lovers, is the fact that we have to understand the latent understanding that is there between JAP and TMC. JAP and TMC have acquiesced to the fact that JAP will be supported by TMC till it does not raise the issue of Gorkhakand and in order to gain power JAP has avoided the term Gorkha even in the name of the party, knowing very well that this itself is going to hold back their relationship with the public. They have more importantly conceded to the demand of TMC not to further raise the issue of Gorkhaland.

The removal of the name of Dr Chettri from the list of candidates is further indication for all to witness that the two parties are hand in glove with each other. They, at any cost want to suppress, the voice of Gorkha for their rightful demand of Gorkhaland. And in doing so Dr Chettri and his party has agreed to be the means for TMC and DIDI to achieve their goals of suppressing the demand of Gorkhaland as well as the voice of the Gorkha. However, means are not selected without merit. It is selected and also determined by the environment. DIDI was very effective in selecting and calculating what would be her right means to dismantle the demand for Gorkhaland. She saw in her pawn a very 'fox' like character to do things which would lead it to power. Again the pawn, as a 'fox' in its endeavour to achieve power has innovated the means to reach its goal. It would had been acceptable to the people had it used the social conditions to its advantage in bringing about a change in the regime but what it did was choose the unacceptable, of supporting TMC and its dictates.

The party and more precisely its handful of supports declared itself to be party of intellectuals. Therefore these so called leaders are charismatic for them. However, it needs to be noted that when charismatic leadership is there it is supported by the subordinate members of the elite and the public plays a subservient role. The majority of the people in the hills are not political elites and therefore in this party of intellectuals the majority of the population in the hills will play a very subordinate role. The incumbent in power today in Darjeeling at least can associate himself with these unintelligent, irrational, apathetic masses and thereby understand what they go through in their daily affairs and show sympathy. This party of intellectuals will only work to fulfil the political necessities of its allies and thereby make the concerns of all the Gorkha, the creation of Gorkhaland as irrelevant as they have achieved by not mentioning the creation of Gorkhaland in their party's manifesto released in much fanfare and also keep at a distance the 'unintelligent public'.

Coming to the voters, there is much confusion and apathy, regarding the choice to be made. It is understandable that many have grievances against the ruling party as well. But what needs to be understood is the fact that they are swimming against the tide, and their own trusted lieutenants have at crucial periods betrayed the leadership and the party, as was done by the MLA who again is contesting for the same post with the benevolence of DIDI. He has ditched the issue of Gorkhaland and the interest of the party as well as the people once, so what guarantee is there that he would not do it again if it befits his personal ambitions and aspirations.

As Mao Zedong once remarked it is not the time to sit on the fence, so let us show our resolve to achieve Gorkhaland and the tenacity to fight for the cause of Gorkha and Gorkhaland and also to support the party, GJMM, irrespective of its shortcomings and disadvantages, which has, if not anything kept alive the issue of Gorkhaland and thereby the aspirations of the people by voting all its candidates to victory in the coming election.

[Binu Sundas (Ph.D, JNU)
New Delhi
http://binusundas.blogspot.in/ ]

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