Thapa, Lama for land rights, min tea wages

SNS, DARJEELING, 6 MAY 2019: As the Darjeeling Assembly constituency goes to the polls on 19 May. the most important issues that almost all the parties and independent candidates have taken up so far seem robe land rights and Minimum Wages Act in tea gardens The two issues had also featured prominently during the Lok Sabha elections in the Hills last month.
If these two issues were highlights of the manifesto of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader and independent candidate. Binoy Tamang. the same also feature in the election agendas of independent candidate Swaraj Thapa and Jan Andolan Party candidate Amar Lama.
BJP candidate Neeraj Zimba is also speaking on these two issues.
In the manifestos of both Mr Lama and Mr Thapa. apart from the demand for parja-patta (land rights documents) for people living in tea gardens, cinchona plantation. forest villages and DI Fund area, along with the issue of minimum wages, the demand for panchayat elections has also come up, which can be seen in Mr Tamang's manifesto too.While Mr Tamang is demanding two- tier panchayat elections, Mr Lama's manifesto talks about having a three-tier rural polls, while Mr. Thapa ' s manifesto does not specify as to what kind of rural elections he is talking about.
Another common issue taken up by Mr Thapa and Mr Lama is the Gorkhaland demand, with the former maintaining th at he was committed to the issue and Mr Lama saying that they would work to draw the attention of the state government to the demand.
Today, both of them were seen campaigning around  town, with Mr Thapa. who is being supported by the CPRM and the Congress, starting his election campaign today from Chowrasta. He also released his election agenda. while on the other hand Mr Lama was seen holding a street corner meeting at Chowk Baazar.
Other issues mentioned in Mr lamass manifesto include preservation and development of the Nepali language, permanent status for casual workers in the GTA, establishment of Law and Medical College. revival of hams, Bijanbari being made into a sub-division. revival of umbrella factory in Lebong, formation of a regulated market, improving traffic along with solving parking problems here, shifting of DM office from main town, and reopening of closed tea gardens, among others.
On the other hand, the agendas being raised by Mr Thapa include clean politics in the hills, restoration of democratic rights, peace and-self esteem of the people here. rejection of cases of people during the agitation period, employment facilities, better health facilities and drinking water and tribal status for 11 different communities.