CPM unity call to anti-Morcha parties

TT, Siliguri, July 3: The CPM in Darjeeling district sent a letter to three regional parties yesterday, requesting them to participate in the GTA elections in unison.

Jibesh Sarkar, the acting district secretary of the CPM in Darjeeling, who wrote the letter to the presidents and secretaries of the CPRM, GNLF, ABGL and the Darjeeling Civil Society, invited them for immediate talks to join hands and strive for peace and democracy.

The GTA polls are scheduled for July 29.

“We have reservations on certain clauses in the GTA Act and feel that the situation in the hills is not conducive enough to hold the polls in a free, fair and peaceful manner,” Sarkar said today. “Nevertheless, we are keen on participating to catalyse the process of restoring peace and democracy which is the need of the hour.”

“Now that the polls are ahead, we have written to these parties, urging them to participate in the polls and work together for restoration of democracy and peace in hills. We must work in unison to achieve our common goal,” the CPM leader added.

The CPM, which had support of around 40 per cent of the hill population in the eighties — even Morcha president Bimal Gurung has acknowledged it — is left with an abysmally low support base in all the three hill sub-divisions where the GTA polls would be held.

“At this point, it is always preferable for a party like the CPM, which has little base in the hills, to propose an alliance of anti-Morcha parties. It is interesting to note that all the three hill parties to which Sarkar has sent the letter are advocators of Gorkhaland while the CPM is vehemently against it,” a political observer said.

“It seems the CPM is giving priority to the GTA polls now and wants all these parties, who have some presence in hills, to converge at a common point to contest against the candidates of Morcha.”

If an alliance is struck among the four parties, the polls would turn out to be more interesting as Trinamul is also in the fray, the observer said.

“This would make the contest tough for Trinamul as anti-Morcha votes will divide and help Morcha candidates to gain more margins. Situation can only change if Trinamul, in a formal or informal manner, strikes a deal with these parties in some of the seats as it has confirmed pitting candidates in at least half of the 45 seats,” the observer added.

Sarkar, when asked whether a common candidate would be fielded by these four parties to avoid sharing of anti-Morcha votes, said: “It is not the right time to speak on the issue. Our plan is to hold immediate talks among ourselves. In case such a proposal comes up, we will definitely contemplate and decide on it.”

Representatives of other parties, who acknowledged receiving the letter and talking over the phone with CPM leaders, gave mixed reactions.

R.B. Rai, the general secretary of the CPRM — the breakaway faction of the CPM in the hills — said the party would meet CPM leaders for talks in a day or two. ABGL leaders said they were yet to take a decision within the party.

“We have talked to CPM leaders over phone today and have learnt about the proposal and letter to work together. Our party is likely to take a decision within next couple of days on it, and accordingly we will convey the CPM leadership,” Pratap Khati, the general secretary said.