Darjeeling gearing up for assembly polls
March 26th, 2011 - 6:22 pm ICT by IANSSiliguri, March 26 (IANS) Darjeeling, which has witnessed violent agitations for the past two years for separate Gorkhaland state, is gearing up for the first phase of West Bengal assembly polls, scheduled April 18.
With most political parties announcing their nominees, candidates began submitting their nominations Thursday for the six assembly seats at stake from the area. The last date for nominations is March 31.
Communist Party of India-Marxist’s (CPI-M) Deepa Chettri became the first candidate to file her nomination Thursday. She will contest from Kurseong.
The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), which is spearheading the separate Gorkhaland state agitation, Thursday released its candidates list.
Former Andhra Pradesh chief secretary and GJM’s Study Forum member Trilok Dewan will contest from Darjeeling, Professor Rohit Sharma will contest from Kurseong, and the GJM’s press and publicity secretary Harka Bahadur Chetry will contest from Kalimpong.
The GJM’s rival, the Subhas Ghising-led Gorkha National Libaration Front (GNLF) had earlier announced the names of three candidates, including a woman, for Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong seats.
Bhim Subba, Prakash Dahal and Pemu Chettri will contest as GNLF candidates from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong respectively.
The Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP) March 24 declared the names of the candidates for six assembly seats in Dooars, the Himalayan flood-plains and foothills, and Terai.
Sukra Munda will fight from Nagrakata, Sandip Ekka from Kalchini, Dipak Kujur from Kumargram, Tez K. Toppo from Malbaazar, Hiralal Minjwill from Madarihat and Thomas Ekka from Phansidewa, ABAVP leader Binod Tigga said.
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- Our MLAs will resign once they win Bengal polls: GJM - Apr 13, 2011
- GJM's Gorkhaland movement a failure: Ghising - Apr 10, 2011
- Ghising returns to Darjeeling after three years - Apr 08, 2011
- Madan Tamang's widow to contest from Darjeeling - Mar 30, 2011
- Darjeeling votes peacefully in large numbers - Apr 18, 2011
- GJM offers support to Trinamool-Congress combine - Apr 02, 2011
- 364 to contest 54 seats in Bengal first phase poll - Apr 05, 2011
- 'Fear factor' missing from Darjeeling campaigning, say parties - Apr 12, 2011
- GJM to boycott Rajya Sabha polls - Mar 18, 2012
- Rally to celebrate Darjeeling accord - Jul 21, 2011
- Darjeeling accord on July 18: Mamata (Lead) - Jul 15, 2011
- People angry over Ghisingh's sixth schedule demand: GJM - Apr 18, 2011
- Ghising's aide quits his Gorkha outfit - Sep 18, 2010
Tags: andhra pradesh chief, assembly polls, assembly seats, binod, chief secretary, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, dahal, deepa, ekka, flood plains, gjm, gorkha, munda, publicity secretary, study forum, sukra, tigga, toppo, west bengal