Trinamul warning for Rai lead

BIRESWAR BANERJEE, TT, 19 March 2019, Siliguri: Senior Trinamul leaders on Monday sent a clear message to the party's officebearers in three Assembly segments in the Siliguri subdivision that they would face action if Amar Singh Rai didn't get high votes in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

The first election meeting of the district committee of the party was held at the indoor stadium here on Monday.

Minister Aroop Biswas, who is also Trinamul's observer in Darjeeling district, was present.

"All those working at booth levels will have to ensure that our party leads in every booth. If any leader or worker who holds a post in the party (From left) Aroop Biswas, Amar Singh Rai and Gautam Deb at the meeting in Siliguri on Monday. Picture by Passang Yolmo fails to secure a lead for the candidate, he/she will be removed," Biswas told a gathering of around 500 party leaders and workers.

In the 2014 general election, Trinamul's Darjeeling candidate Bhaichung Bhutia cou- ld not secure lead in any of the Assembly segments in the Siliguri subdivision -- Siliguri, Matigara-Naxalbari and Phansidewa. Bhutia secured more votes only in Chopra Assembly segment in the neighbouring district of North Dinajpur.

There are over 800 booths in the three Assembly segments in the subdivision.

Tourism minister and Darjeeling (plains) district president of Trinamul Gautam Deb and Amar Singh Rai were present at the meeting on Monday. "We have to accept that we could not win any Assembly or Parliament seat in the Darjeeling district in the past few years. We had to hang our heads down when we faced our leaders in Calcutta after the elections. This is an opportunity for all of us to put our best efforts and ensure win in this seat as we have the best possible candidate," said Deb.

Rai, who also addressed the meeting, accused the BJP of "betraying" the hill people.

"We were betrayed by the BJP. The Prime Minister had once said here that Gorkhas' dream was his also' but did nothing for the hill residents in the past five years. We will not let it happen again," said the Trinamul candidate.