Morcha social media thrust

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 23 February 2019,  Darjeeling: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to give a major thrust on social media campaign during the Lok Sabha election and decided to train 90 professionals.

Social media has been a major campaign tool used mostly by national parties but this is the first time a hillbased party has decided to form such a team.

Suraj Sharma, spokesperson, Morcha, said: "During our central committee meeting held in Kurseong on Thursday, one of the decisions taken was to give a major thrust on campaign through social media." The party has decided involve two "technocrats" for each of the 45 Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) constituencies in the hills.

"We would try our best to select the two professionals who belong to respective constituencies. We will then hold a workshop for all the 90 technocrats to teach the use of social media in political campaign," said Sharma.

The Morcha faces an acid test in the upcoming election. "Booth-level committees have been formed in some areas of Kalimpong. We will complete the process in over 600 booths of the hills by the end of the month," said Sharma. The committees will be monitored by block-level and sub-divisional election committees. "A three-member central committee will be monitoring the activities of all these committees," said Sharma.

The Darjeeling seats comprises four Assembly seats from the plains and three from the hills. The political dynamics in the plains and hills are different this time, making the Darjeeling seat one of the most keenly fought in Bengal.

Sixteen parties, including the Jana Andolan Party, GNLF, CPRM, CPM and the Congress have come together under the banner of All Party Unity for Protection of Democratic Right. Even though this conglomeration has come together on the issue of democratic rights, it is still unclear whether this would translate into an alliance for a consensus candidate.

Kishore Pradhan, convener of APUPDR, said: "Today, we had wanted to submit a memorandum to the Darjeeling district magistrate regarding repeated denial to hold public meetings by certain parties in the hills." The leader, alleged that the district magistrate directed them to ADM (land and land reforms) after making them wait more than an hour.