Dooars Adivasi leader joins Trinamul camp

SNS, SILIGURI, 28 DECEMBER 20 : President of the Bharatiya Mulnivasi Adivasi Vikas Parishad Rajesh Lakra, who recently threatened Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung, joined the Trinamul Congress today. Minister-in-charge of state labour department Moloy Ghatak and another Trinamul Congress leader Ritabrata Banerjee handed over party flag to Mr Lakra at the Trinamul Bhawan in Kolkata.

According to Minister Ghatak, Mr Lakra is popularly known as 'tiger' in the tea belt and has been "attracted" to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's initiatives to bring in massive development for tea workers in the tea belt.

"Tea workers used to get Rs 67 a day in wages during the CPI-M period. They are now drawing Rs176 a day, and their wages will be increased further based on the ongoing negotiations with leaders and planters. The government has also launched the 'Cha Sundari housing project for tea workers," Mr Ghatak said.

Mr Lakra echoed Mr Ghatak as he justified his decision to join the TMC.

Notably, Mr Lakra had very recently said that he would not allow Mr Gurung, who has now joined hands with the TMC and started working for Mamata Banerjee in this region including the Terai, Dooars and the Hills, to campaign in the Adivasi-dominated Terai-Dooars region.

Party sources, meanwhile, said the TMC leadership was upset after Sukra Munda, who was elected MLA from Nagrakata on a TMC ticket, joined the BJP recently Miss Banerjee had picked Mr Munda and projected him. "Lakra, alias Tiger, may be a replacement of Munda," sources said.

Introducing Mr Lakra, Mr Ghatak claimed that he was the "main leader" in both the Terai and the Dooars regions.

Asked to comment, the winking president of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad leader, Tej Kumar Toppo, said: "There is no question of happiness or sadness over his decision to join the TMC. He was not the main leader. His organization's name is Mulnivasi, which is named after our organisation." "He is energetic, but not educated. Education is an essential part of a leader for his political career," Mr Toppo said.