Former V-C to contest LS polls

SNS, Kurseong, 7 July: Finally, with gossip and speculations rife, the former vice-chancellor of the Sikkim University and present Pro Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU Mr Mahendra P Lama, declared and have decided to contest the coming Lok Sabha 2014 elections as an Independent candidate from the Darjeeling constituency.

Notably, for the past several months, there had been different conjectures in the Hills that Mr Lama is going to form a new party.

It has also been learnt that most of the Hill people have welcomed his stance even if it is a mere speculation, and has been clamouring for a person of his caliber to guide them in the pursuit of their paramount aspiration of a separate state of Gorkhaland. Amidst speculation, Mr Mahendra P Lama, while addressing a Press conference in Kalimpong yesterday, broke the ice and announced that he would indeed enter the the Lok Sabha 2014 election fray as an Independent candidate. While addressing the Press, Mr Lama said he has decided to enter the electoral fray to solve the many problems that Darjeeling Hills has and to carry its ideas to its right place.Mr Lama said, he could have easily entered the election arena as a candidate of any National Party or a regional one, but he felt that the best way to carry forward would be as an Independent candidate.