Aroop to oversee hill TMC's poll fight

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 16: Aroop Biswas, the state minister and the Trinamul observer for Darjeeling district, will visit the hills from Sunday to oversee the party's preparation for civic elections tentatively scheduled for May 14.

For almost 30 years, elections in the hills have been dominated by local parties and this time, Trinamul is trying its best to have its presence in the four municipalities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik.

N.B Khawash, the working president of Trinamul (hills), today said: "Aroop Biswas will be arriving in Darjeeling on March 19. On his way to Darjeeling, he will visit Kurseong. The minister will be in Darjeeling on March 20 also and the next day, he will visit either Mirik or Kalimpong."

In the last civic elections in 2011, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had won all wards in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong uncontested.

In Mirik, the Morcha secured four of the nine wards uncontested. Elections were held in five seats and they were also won by the Morcha.

Trinamul believes there is an anti-incumbency factor working against the Morcha in the four municipal areas. The ruling party hopes the state government's decision to form 15 development boards for various hill communities will help it reap electoral gains.

Trinamul had already started door-to-door campaign and today, party leaders visited wards 20, 21, 22 and 23 in Darjeeling. "We are in the process of forming election committees in different wards of four municipalities," said Khawash.