Morcha begins Hill civic poll preparations

SNS, DARJEELING, 13 JANUARY 2022: While on one hand, the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha has decided to support Trinamul Congress candidates in the Siliguri Municipal Corporation elections, they have started preparations for the civic polls in Darjeeling on the other. 

Morcha president Bimal Gurung today said that although dates for the municipality elections for the hills have not been announced yet, his party would be starting their preparations for the same.

"We will be visiting different wards and interacting with people, while also looking at the Covid protocols," Mr Gurung said.

Asked if any decision had been taken to field candidates or if they would extend their support to some other party, he said, "Nothing has been finalized yet, and it will he decided in our central committee meeting. In Siliguri, we extended our support to the TMC as we did not field any candidate there."

The Morcha president also said that they would take up the issue of providing work to Gorkhaland Personnel (GLP) with the state government. The GLP is the party's so-called peacekeeping wing.'

"The GLP has raised issues and grievances about their future and what they should do about it. They have requested me to take up the issue with the government and see if they could get some work as home guards or in the police or others. I will take up the matter with the government," Mr Gurung said.

According to him, there were about 15,000 GLP when they had started, but at present there were around 3,500 of them.