Voting passes off peacefully in Darjeeling

EOI, Darjeeling, 17 April 2014: The first phase of the Lok Sabha election in Bengal, in the Darjeeling parliamentary constituency, passed off peacefully without any major incident and with a high 80.13 per cent of votes recorded at the end of the around 6pm.

Taking both his supporters and that of its ally, the Trinamool Congress by surprise, Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghisingh did not cast his vote at booth no. 171 at Gandhi Road in Darjeeling. TMC (Hills) spokesperson Binny Sharma refused to comment but said, “It is his (Ghisingh’s) constitutional right and we have nothing to say to his decision.”

However, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri proffered that the GNLF leader was perhaps aware Bhaichung Bhutia would eventually lose and thus refrained from casting his vote.

“Ghisingh already knew that Bhaichung would not fare well in the election and this is why he did not vote,” claimed Giri.

Long queues marked the day-long voting process in the hills and the huge turn-out was greeted with positive responses from the camps of all contesting candidates.

“People have voted with enthusiasm and have given us support. We are confident of victory,” said Giri. The TMC spokesperson also thanked the people for turning out to vote in huge numbers.

“After several years, people have tasted true democracy. I salute their courage to come out and vote,” he said.

Independent candidate Mahendra P Lama, who could manage to get a kitty full of votes that could dent both the GJM-BJP and GNLF-TMC combine prospects, also sounded confident of victory and said, “It was a participatory, vibrant and enjoyable election. And this is after a long time.”

CPM district secretariat member KB Wattar, though acknowledging the party’s weakness in the hills, expressed confidence of wresting a major chunk of votes that would be critical when it comes to the accumulative total of plains votes.

“We hope to get anything between 35,000-40,000 votes from the hills. This votes however, will be a factor when added to the votes from the plains where we are confident of getting huge numbers,” he said.

GJM chief Bimal Gurung cast his vote around nine in the morning at a polling booth in Patleybas and appeared satisfied. After voting, he started-off on a tour of surrounding areas. BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia, supported by the GJM remained in the plains where the party’s organisation is weak and apparently to boost the morale of his polling agents and supporters.

TMC’s Bhaichung toured booths in the hills while independent candidate Lama also went to various polling booths throughout the day.

The day went off without major incidents although the GJM and TMC made counter allegations. The TMC has filed 24 complaints and demanded re-polling in booth 175 in Darjeeling where it alleged the polling officer openly supported the GJM.

“GJM leaders and supporters intimidated voters. Our polling agent Rubina Lama in booth 102 in Kurseong was assaulted by Kurseong Municipality chairman and GJM leader Samardeep Blone, against whom we have lodged a complaint,” said the TMC spokesperson.

The GJM general secretary, however, refuted the allegation saying, “It is baseless and fabricated to hide their failure. The TMC knows the eventual outcome of the election and wants to save its face”.

DK Pradhan, the BJP candidate’s election agent and a GJM central committee member alleged the district police of being biased. “It seemed the police were working in favour of the TMC and even intimidating voters. We will lodge a complaint with the EC observer,” he said.

Meanwhile, police detained Asha Gurung, wife of the GJM president, at the Darjeeling sadar police station allegedly for intimidating voters.

The election also saw a substantial number of first time voters in the hills which could work in favor of the contesting candidates. “I am feeling proud to be part of such a huge democratic exercise of the country. I am also happy that my vote will help elect a good person,” said 18-year old Subham Lepcha while casting his vote for the first time ever. Similarly, Aditi Kharel, presently pursuing a degree in MSW, said, “It is my first voting experience. I am presently in Bangalore, but I came up to Darjeeling to cast my vote for the right cause and person.”

The district administration and police said there were no report of violence and disruption from anywhere in the hills and  polling was peaceful throughout the day.