GJM proposes Ahluwalia’s name from Darjeeling

EOI, Darjeeling, 13 Mar 2014: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today proposed the name of BJP leader SS Ahluwalia as the candidate for the Lok Sabha election from Darjeeling.

GJM president Bimal Gurung today held a series of meetings at the party’s Patleybas office with the study forum, central committee and frontal organisations for which the party's block and zonal units were also invited.

GJM general secretary Roshan Giri told the media later that "our party president has proposed the name of Ahluwalia for the Darjeeling seat. We have taken into account Ahluwalia’s stature as a parliamentarian who has also remained Rajya Sabha deputy leader and a four-time MP. We have also kept in mind the fact that Ahluwalia is vastly experienced and has been a member of various parliamentary committees and we feel he will definitely help our cause".

He added, "We have proposed the candidate's name and it is being discussed by the BJP this very moment at its parliamentary board meeting. Ahluwalia's name may be officially announced tonight or by tomorrow morning."

Giri maintained that the GJM’s decision to support the BJP once again instead of a local candidate as has been the demand in the hills is a tactful and a well-thought out move.

"Our agenda is that of statehood. We need the support of BJP leaders and ministers in Parliament. We feel fielding a 'bhumiputra' (son of the soil) will not help our cause under such a backdrop," argued the GJM general secretary.

When prodded further, he said, "Other factors we took into account were that the BJP has always supported the creation of smaller states such as Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Jharkhand. Besides, it was the BJP who opposed and stalled the Sixth Schedule bill in the Lok Sabha in 2007. Our issue of a separate state was also included in the BJP's election manifesto in 2009. Sitting MP Jaswant Singh has been the voice of the Gorkahs in Parliament and leaders such as Sushma Swaraj and Rajiv Pratap Rudi have time and again raised our demand in the House. In fact, Rudi even wanted to place a private bill in Parliament on the issue.”

According to the GJM general secretary, deliberations are in progress to name the BJP candidate from the Alipurduar seat, while the party has accepted the candidate fielded from the Jalpaiguri constituency. The GJM has appealed to all to support and vote for the BJP candidate in the three seats of North Bengal even as it asserted its relations with the Trinamool Congress have not soured.

"Our relation with the TMC is not over. The GTA is functioning well and things are on the right path. Of course, we are aware that it is election time and the TMC including other parties will have their own issues to promote," remarked Giri.