Morcha begins election warm-up

TT, 04 Jan 2019, Siliguri: Senior leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, including party chief Binay Tamang, on Thursday joined the "Chintan Sabha" or a two day brainstorming session to chalk out future plans.

"In these two days, we will be discussing on a series of issues. We will analyse whether in past one and half years' time, we have succeeded in carrying out development for the hill people. Some political issues will also be talked at the meeting," Tamang said at the meeting in Sukna, 10km from Siliguri.

Over 250 leaders of Morcha, who are working in different tiers, are participating at the session that will last around nine hours each day.

"The party has already clarified that it will not support the BJP but is yet to confirm whether it will go with Trinamul. Also, it is not clear whether the Morcha will field its own candidate or will support a candidate fielded by its "Chintan Sabha" in Sukna on Thursday. (Passang Yolmo) prospective ally," said an observer.

In recent times, this is the first of its kind exercise that has been planned by the party that has the largest support base in hills.

As the Lok Sabha polls are drawing near, some other hill parties like the CPRM has already started making preparations. The CPRM has also planned an all-party meeting at the end of this month and will invite all other political forces of the hills other than Trinamul to discuss the elections.

According to source in Morcha, Binay Tamang wants to take his colleagues into confidence before reaching at any decision. "This is because the Bimal Gurung lobby is still active and still considers them to be an ally of BJP. Binay Tamang does not want any disgruntlement to brew within the party ," said a source..