Deb backs Baichung, says TMC will fight Darj polls alone

SNS, Siliguri, 10 March 2014: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today supported Baichung Bhutia’s ‘personal decision’ to seek support from Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) chief Bimal Gurung. A section of leaders in the Darjeeling Hill Trinamul have objected to Mr Bhutia’s decision to reach out to the GJMM for a possible tie-up during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“I support Baichung for his decision to call up Bimal Gurung. A candidate can approach all persons who belong to other political parties. We should not be critical over whether his phone call was responded to positively or negatively,” Mr Deb told a press conference here.

The former Indian football captain telephoned Mr Gurung on Saturday and sought the latter’s support in his poll bid in Darjeeling. Mr Gurung refused to support Mr Bhutia and today, finally decided to “continue” its “relations” with BJP.

Reacting to GJMM’s decision to support BJP in the polls, Mr Deb said: “There is no chance of an alliance with GJMM. Being a political party, it can go along with any political party. We do not bother about the GJMM decision. But it is evident that the GJMM will be once again criticised for supporting BJP.”

“Everybody knows that a section of the people put up ‘wanted’ posters of Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh, who, according to them, went missing (soon after the 2009 elections) in Darjeeling Hills. Despite Mamata Banerjee’s top priority to develop Darjeeling, if they go with BJP, we will go it alone and campaign in the Hills from 12 March by highlighting development plans for the people,” Mr Deb said. He added that he is confident about Mr Bhutia winning the seat.

Acording to him, around 400 families from Savoke-10 Mile will join Trinamul Congress, while several leaders belonging to different political parties in Matigara and Naxalbari will follow suit.

A senior Congress activist, Ashok Bhagat, from ward no 5 in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation joined Trinamul today, he said. In another context, Mr Deb said his party has constituted a north Bengal Economic Forum, where around 30 persons, including 25 chartered accountants, joined today.