10km poll march for Tamang

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 12 May 2019, Darjeeling: Anit Thapa and other leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's Binay Tamang faction took part in a 10km march here as part of their campaign for the Darjeeling Assembly seat bypoll on May 19.

The march for Tamang, who is contesting the bypoll, from Senchel Dham in Tiger Hill to Mahakal Mandir near Chowrasta was one of the longest election processions in recent times in the hills.

Almost all candidates contesting the Darjeeling by-elections had visited Mahakal Mandir before filing their nomination. Mahakal Mandir is one of the few places of worship where a Buddhist monk and a Hindu priest conduct their prayers together.

Thapa, general secretary of the Morcha faction, said: "This is a march to connect with the people. Hundreds of people joined our rally after we started from Senchel Dham in Tiger Hill"We had named the march as Sankalp (promise) rally. We Anit Thapa (in blue jacket) walks with party supporters in Darjeeling on Saturday are determined to keep the hills peaceful. It is after much effort that we have managed to restore peace in the region," said Thapa.

During this by-election rally, most of the candidates are concentrating in door-to-door campaigns and till date no ma- jor public meeting has been organized by the candidates, except for GNLF's public meeting at Sukhiapokhri on Friday.

Amar Lama, candidate of Jana Andolan Party on Saturday campaigned in the Lebong/Singamari area while independent candidates Swaraj Thapa and Sarda Subba was seen campaigning door-todoor in Tungsoong and Badamtam area, respectively.

The two major parties, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay) and GNLF alliance partners seems to have split their campaigners, said an observer.