Polling peaceful but Gurung’s wife arrested, released on bail

Trinamool candidate Bhaichung Bhutia interacts with voters
in the Hills on Thursday

THT, 18 Apr 2014, DARJEELING: Darjeeling constituency recorded around 80% polling with queues visible from early in the morning. Around 11 persons, including Asha Gurung, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) member and wife of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) president Bimal Gurung were arrested for violating the model code of conduct. She was later released on bail.

Around 5:10 pm, Asha was arrested along with 10 others for violating Section 144 CRPC from the Darjeeling Railway Station area. “We have initiated a case. Asha has been released on bail,” said Akhilesh Chaturvedi, superintendent of police, Darjeeling.

High profile candidates being fielded from Darjeeling has resulted in a close battle. While the BJP has fielded party vice-president SS Ahluwalia, who is backed by the GJM, the TMC has fielded former Indian football skipper Bhaichung Bhutia. Former vice-chancellor of Sikkim Central University Mahendra P Lama is also in the fray as an Independent.

The CPI(M) has fielded former Rajya Sabha MP Saman Pathak while the Congress has fielded youth leader Sujoy Ghatak. There are 13 candidates in the fray from Darjeeling. The constituency with 14,15,168 electors comprises seven Assembly segments with three in the Hills and four in the plains.

With polling starting at 7am, Bhaichung was seen making rounds of the booths in Darjeeling. “The people of the Hills are aware of the fact that both the BJP and the GJM are not sincere about Gorkhaland. They have dual stand regarding separate state - one in the Hills and one in the plains. The GJM has even failed to carry out development activities through the GTA,” stated Bhaichung. Bhaichung, who is confident of victory, claimed that people would vote for peace, development and democracy advocated by TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee.

GJM president, while exuding confidence, said that the BJP backed by the GJM would win by one and a half lakh votes. “We have supported BJP for the Gorkhaland cause and people will vote for Gorkhaland which is our aspiration,” said Gurung.

Mahendra P Lama dubbed this election as vibrant and participatory but complained of major lapses in rural areas. “I will lodge complaints with the Election Commission on Friday that checking of identity cards were not made compulsory in rural booths.”