Darjeeling by-election: Hill outfits go in a huddle

Darjeeling: With the gazette notification of the Assembly by-elections in Darjeeling, the Hill political outfits have gone into a tizzy.

With their election machineries already oiled owing to the Lok Sabha polls in the constituency, the political camps have started preparing for the by-elections. Polls are slated for May 19 and counting will take place on May 23.

The Gorkha Janmukti Youth Morcha (GJYM) on Monday pressed for Binay Tamang, the party president and chairman, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), to be fielded as the GJM candidate.

"GJYM feels that the candidate for the Assembly by-elections that Tamang should be fielded as the GJM candidate. He has maintained a very good liaison with the state government. The result of this has been peace and development in the Hills. If he is made the candidate, it will further cement the relationship between the Hills and the plains thereby helping the Hills reap benefits with more development projects. He can resolve many Hill issues," stated Amrit Yonzon, president, GJYM.

The GJYM has submitted a memorandum to the Central Committee on these lines. The TMC will not be fielding a candidate for the by-election and instead will be supporting the GJM. "We have fielded the Parliamentary election candidate from the party backed by the GJM. In turn, we will support the GJM in the Assembly elections," Mamata Banerjee had stated. Tamang, however, said: "Nothing has been decided regarding the candidature for the by-election yet."