GJM ties up with two outfits in foothills

ENS, Kolkata, June 08 2013: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) will be fielding its candidates in the tribal-dominated Dooars and Terai for the upcoming three-tier panchayat polls in alliance with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a local tribal outfit of John Barla.

The area will go to the polls in the third phase — July 9. "However, we are yet start the seat-sharing process in the area," said GJM general secretary Roshan Giri.

The party is keen to contest the panchayat elections in Dooars and Terai, as it wants the 396 mouzas of the area to be included in the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).

"Our party is yet to get the adjoining mouzas, but wants to control the areas as there are hundreds of tea gardens there. So, to have a command over the adjoining tea belt, the best possible way is to control the local panchayats," said a senior GJM leader.

The GJM, which has been allotted ladder as symbol, wants to field its candidates in nearly 200 mouzas.

The talks for alliance had begun in April when the GJM leadership held several meetings with the JMM in Ranchi.

Though the relations between the GJM and the ruling Trinamool Congress has improved in the recent days, the party has no plan to have an electoral understanding with it.

Meanwhile, the tribal outfit led by Johnn Barla has entered into an "unusual alliance". While it will contest the elections for the panchayat samity in alliance with the GJM, the outfit has joined hands with the Trinamool Congress for the zilla parishad election.

"These are local adjustments," said Barla and added he will put up his candidates in Malbazzar, Banarhat and Kumargram blocks.