Darjeeling: Bouncing back from the ‘candle’ symbol goof-up, the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) candidates on Wednesday filed nominations for the Kurseong and Kalimpong Assembly Constituencies. In a show of strength in both places, mammoth rallies accompanied the candidates. The BGPM has now applied for the ‘battery torch” symbol.
The BGPM has fielded Amar Lama, a lawyer in Kurseong and sitting MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha from Kalimpong. “The sea of people that have come out in support of the BGPM is truly a morale booster for our party and the leaders. We will win all three seats- Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong,” stated BGPM President Anit Thapa, accompanying Amar Lama in Kurseong. BGPM candidate Vijay Kumar Rai will be filing his nomination for the Darjeeling seat on April 2.
“In 2017, we started our political journey for peace, democracy and development. Some are talking of Parivartan (change). At least with the Parivartan, we brought to the hills, people don’t have to run away from here. There is democracy, new political parties can be opened and you can say what you want, freely, without fear,” added Thapa.
He gave a clarion call to his supporters to give continuity to the peace and development. “Even the elections have to be conducted peacefully. I urge our supporters to maintain peace during the election and not to step into any provocation,” stated the BGPM President.
Regarding the change in symbol from ‘candle’ to ‘battery torch,’ Thapa stated: “We have to move on. When the candle did not feature in the ECI list, we decided to choose the battery torch symbol.
The torch also gives light and cannot be extinguished by wind or water.” Adding to this, Amar Lama, the Kurseong candidate, stated: “We were asked to choose three options. We have chosen the battery torch, binoculars and a table. As it is first-come, first-served, we will be allotted the battery torch.”
In Kalimpong, a huge rally was held in support of Ruden Sada Lepcha, the BGPM candidate. The rally started from Dambar Chowk and culminated at the SDO office. “We are confident of a sweep this time. Neither the BJP nor their candidate Bharat Chettri is a factor. More people have come out in our support,” remarked Lepcha.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP had bagged the Darjeeling and Kurseong seats while the BGPM had won from the Kalimpong seat.