Darjeeling all set to go for polls on April 17

UJJAL BHATTACHARYYA, EOI, Siliguri, 15 Apr 2014: People of Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency are gearing up to cast their votes on April 17 during the first phase of the election in the state. This year’s general poll is considered to be of utmost importance for the future of the constituency as it may pave a way for the local Gorkha population to achieve their prolonged demand for Gokhaland.

The constituency comprises of seven assembly constituencies incorporating Kalimpong enlisting 189953 voters, Darjeeling with 220692 voters, Kurseong with 209081 voters, Matigara-Naxalbari 222997 voters, Siliguri with 196542 voters, Phansidewa with 190367 voters and Chopra with 193597 voters. The Election Commission has set up total 1829 polling stations across the constituency.

As many as 13 candidates are competing the poll from the constituency including SS Ahluwalia of BJP, Baichung Bhutia of Trinamool Congress, Sujay Ghatak of Congress, Saman Pathak of CPM, Nima Lama of Gorkha Rastriya Congress, Niranjan Saha of Amra Bangali, Kakali Majumdar of BSP, Gautam Bhattacharya of SUCI (C), Lalit Singha of Bahujan Mukti Party, Sunil Pandit of Rastriya Jansachetak Party and three independent candidates – Mahendra P Lama, Arjun Kumar Agarwal and Rabindra Roy Basunia.

The district administration has intensified the security across the constituency, especially at the places where poll booths are located. Darjeeling district magistrate Puneet Yadav said total 37 company central forces and thousands of state policemen have been deployed in the vast constituency area to ensure free and fair election in peaceful atmosphere.