Ahluwalia all praise for Gurung, says only Opp in state

SNS, 19 May 2017, SILIGURI: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) chief Bimal Gurung has played the role of the real Opposition in Bengal, said Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers' welfare and Member of Parliament for Darjeeling, S Ahluwalia.

"Though the Trinamul Congress defeated the Congress and the Left parties in the civic body elections, it failed to win in the Hills except the small Mirik municipality. Only Bimal Gurung is playing the role of real Opposition in Bengal. The GIMM proved that," Mr Ahluwalia said on the sidelines of a religious programme at Ranidanga in Siliguri today.

He said the Trinamul Congress got 68 seats while the BJP and its ally (GJMM) secured 72 seats of the 148 in the recent seven civic body elections in the state.

'Which party has won the elections then? Mirik is a small municipality with only nine councillors, Some months ago the small area was upgraded as a sub division.

When people here are denied basic amenities like drinking water the government has focussed only to lure people for two-three seats. People have seen how the elections were held in the Plains Raiganj, Pujali and Domkal. Out of 148 seats, Trinamul Congress managed to get 68 seats while the allies of BJP secured 72 seats, then which party won? Trinamul Congress failed to win the elections in the Hills," he added.

Mr Ahluwalia said Trinamul Congress had failed despite announcing 15 development boards in the Hills and upgrading Kalimpong as a district.

'It barely managed to get two seats in Kalimpong and one seat in Darjeeling, he said.