GJM turns tail on BJP, to support TMC in Dooars ........ GJM to support Trinamool in rural polls

MP, 5 April 2018, Darjeeling: In a major setback for the BJP, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Thursday announced its decision to forge an alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the forthcoming Panchayat elections, in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.

This comes on the heels of Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) also throwing its weight behind the TMC in Dooars for the rural polls.

The day saw a core committee and working committee meeting of GJM at Bagrakote in Jalpaiguri, from where this new political equation has emerged.

"We have decided to forge an alliance with the TMC in the two districts of Dooars for the rural polls. We will support TMC candidates in some Panchayats and in our strongholds, we will field independent candidates. A four-member GJM team will be visiting Dooars soon, to negotiate with TMC on seat sharing," stated Suraj Sharma, GJM Spokesperson.

GJM top brass, including president Binay Tamang, was present in the meeting. When questioned on why the GJM decided to leave the BJP fold, Sharma stated: "BJP has let down the Gorkhas. There are numerous instances of this. They have never been serious about the Gorkhas and have just used us for securing seats during elections."

He further stated that while the BJP-led Union government had called for a report within 3 hours of the recent Ranigunj strife, it remained a mere spectator during the 2017 unrest in Darjeeling and the 104-day-long bandh.

"Whereas Mamata Banerjee has helped restore peace and normalcy in the Hills. We want Dooars to benefit also," added Sharma.

The GJM has strongholds in several areas of Dooars. 

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya | TNN | Apr 6, 2018, Jalpaiguri: The Binay Tamang-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced at Jalpaiguri’s Bagrakote on Thursday that they would support Trinamool in the Bengal ruling party’s strongholds in the plains in the upcoming panchayat polls and Trinamool will in turn support GJM candidates in pro-party pockets. 

This was a major setback for BJP that was banking on Nepali voters to make a mark in the tea belt of North Bengal. It was its alliance with Bimal Gurung-led GJM that had won BJP the Madarihat seat in the 2016 assembly polls.