Morcha-BJP election talks on cards

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 9: Senior Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders today left for New Delhi for a possible meeting with the BJP to discuss the election strategy in Bengal and request the national party to field Gorkha candidates in nearly 10 seats in Assam.

However, Roshan Giri and Binay Tamang, the general secretary and the assistant secretary of the Morcha, respectively, said they were going to Delhi to attend the World Cultural Festival organised by The Art of Living Foundation from March 11 to 13.

"We had been invited to the festival but since Bimal Gurung is unable to go to Delhi, I, along with our party leader Binay Tamang, are leaving for Delhi," said Giri.

But sources in the Morcha said the two leaders would discuss the Assembly elections in Bengal as well as in Assam.

"There are chances of the two also holding a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah. Since the Morcha is an ally of the BJP, the party wants to hold a discussion before announcing its candidates in Bengal. The two leaders have been told that they should convince the BJP leadership about the need for all opposition parties coming together in Bengal to take on Trinamul," said a source in the party.

Giri and Tamang will also be discussing Assam elections. "In the Assam elections, we want the BJP to field Gorkha candidates in at least nine seats. We want them to contest on BJP tickets," said the source.

Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, today said in Darjeeling that they were confident that John Barla, the adivasi leader in the Dooars, would be fielded by the BJP in Nagrakatta Assembly seat in Jalpaiguri district.

"We have decided to support John Barla in Nagrakatta," said Gurung.

The Morcha also announced Haji Answar Ahmed Khan as the party's candidate in Chopra constituency in North Dinajpur district. "Since Morcha supporters wanted his candidature, we have decided to field him," said Gurung.

Khan is from Kurseong and a member of the Morcha's central committee.

Sources said the Morcha would be announcing the names of other candidates only after discussions with the BJP leadership.

"Apart from three hill seats, the party is looking at either fielding or supporting candidates in at least five or more seats in the plains," said the source.