The Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League has decided not to field any
candidate in the coming municipality polls in the hills instead lend its
support to Independent candidates as there is no reliable party in the
fray.
Today, Pratap Khati, the ABGL secretary, told The Telegraph that his party would not be supporting any political party at the hustings because there is no trustworthy party in the fray.
"We do not have any credible party in the hills. The Gorkha Janmukti
Morcha is a discredited party and supporting the Trinamul Congress would
mean endorsing its anti-statehood stand. There are many deserving
Independent candidates whom we will support," he said.
Khati said the main reason for not fielding ABGL
candidates is the cash crunch. "We do not have adequate money to contest
the election and have decided to allow our cadres to contest as
Independent candidates on their own expenses if they wish to," he said.
Asked what would be the nature of support extended to the ABGL-backed
Independents, the ABGL leader said it would primarily be in the form of
organising election campaigns.
The ABGL is the second party after the Left Front to back Independent candidates in the civic polls.
Khati accused the parties contesting the elections of not having any
plan on running the civic body for the betterment of residents.
Besides Morcha, the Jana Andolan Party and Trinamul are the main contenders in the coming elections.
Elections to the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik are slated for May 14.(TT)
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