KALIMPONG: The coming General Elections is being taken seriously both by the national and the regional parties. In Darjeeling hills and Dooars Terai, the most powerful party in the region, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is also looking seriously at the general elections and this can been seen from the fact that the Gorkhaland movement has been suspended until the General Elections. There were questions circulating as to which national political party would enjoy the support of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, a delegation returning from New Delhi recently has categorically confirmed that the only national party which was at present in favour of Gorkhaland was Bharatiya Janata Party. However, leaving some chance of negotiation with the Indian National Congress, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung has repeatedly maintained that he would go to Delhi if invited by the Congress Leaders for any poll-alliances. Meanwhile, in a press conference yesterday, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Central Committee member, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri threw surprise when he suggested that the party should field its own candidate. He said, “Since Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is a people’s party, it would be better to send its own representative to the Parliament instead of supporting candidates from other parties. We will not repeat the mistakes GNLF (Gorkha National Liberation Front) committed. People who were in favour of Gorkhaland were made to vote for Congress candidate. If our own representative connaives with the parties and people who are against our movement, how will be ever get to achieve statehood?” Dr. Chettri also expressed deep reservations in believing the national parties. ”Once our candidate is elected, we can then have atleast some say during the formation of the Government at New Delhi,” he said.
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