Trinamool candidate Gopal Lama files nomination for Darjeeling

A largely-attended public meeting was organized at Chowrasta by the BGPM to introduce its candidate to supporters and voters. Senior Trinamool leaders Gautam Deb and Papiya Ghosh and several party leaders from the hills participated in the public meeting

EOI, DARJEELING, MARCH 28, 2024 : Trinamool Congress-Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha combine candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat Gopal Lama on Thursday filed his nomination papers at the Darjeeling District Collector's office amidst fanfare. 

Lama is from the BGPM, but is contesting the election on a Trinamool ticket. Lama along with the BGPM President, Anit Thapa reached the Mahakal temple early in the morning to offer prayers. 

A largely-attended public meeting was organized at Chowrasta by the BGPM to introduce its candidate to supporters and voters. Senior Trinamool leaders Gautam Deb and Papiya Ghosh and several party leaders from the hills participated in the public meeting.

The public meeting was followed by a rally and Lama was escorted by traditional folk artists and Nepali music blaring from speakers to the District Magistrate’s office. 

Speaking at the public meeting, Thapa said: "We will not be holding such public meetings in the days to come. 

Our poll campaign will be more at the booth levels. We have to break the system of communalism which in the past some parties have used during the elections. The hills and Terai are together asking people to vote for a person. Leaders from the plains are present today. In India we are all Indians and we should show that," said Thapa adding that voting in this election was for the victory of the hills. 

When asked about the issue for the elections, Thapa said: “When in the country people are fighting for issues like water, development and infrastructure we will also go ahead with that. The long pending demand of this area will remain but demanding it only in the elections will not solve it as it can be passed only through democratic process. ”

Gopal Lama said: "I do not want to only give assurances because a lot of promises were made in the past but are yet to be fulfilled. I would only like to say that after I win, let us all talk together and work for what needs to be done."Trinamool leader Papiya Ghosh said: “The response we saw today was overwhelming which we could not have believed if we had not come to the hills today. 

People of the hills along with Bengal are all with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.” Ghosh further said that there was a demand of a “bhumi putra” which was fulfilled by Lama as a candidate. 

 The Darjeeling parliamentary constituency is going to polls on April 26 with nominations starting from Thursday and ending on April4. The scrutiny of the nominations will be done on April 5 and the last day of withdrawal on April 8. 

The counting is scheduled to be held on June 4. SUCI candidate Shariar Alam also filed his nomination papers during the day.