Gurung’s prophecy set to come true

 statesman news service 

 DARJEELING, 11 JULY: GJMM president Bimal Gurung’s prediction days ago that most party heavyweights would win without contests has turned out to be correct, with the hurdles in the uncontested victories of the three party stalwarts having been removed. As things stand now, after several candidates have quit the fray, Mr Bimal Gurung, his wife Ms Asha Gurung~ the president of the party’s women’s wing ~ and party assistant general secretary Binay Tamang are on way to uncontested triumphs in the GTA election slated for 29 July. The party general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri almost won his seat in Kurseong after the nomination of a Trinamul-backed independent was rejected yesterday. Ten candidates ~ eight from the CPI-M, one from the Trinamul Congress and one from the RJAP ~ have withdrawn nominations today. Also, several GJMM-backed independents have quit the fray. Now the GJMM is set to win 22 seats without contest. The party is on its way to win 14 seats uncontested in the Darjeeling sub-division which has 22 seats. In Kalimpong, which has 13 seats, the figure of uncontested wins for the GJMM is four. In Kurseong, the preponderant Hill party is set to win four out of 10 seats. The ruling Trinamul Congress fielded candidates in 17 seats while five out of 13 Marxist candidates are still in the fray. Speaking to the reporters today, CPI-M Darjeeling district secretary Jibesh Sarkar said his party is the real contestant against the GJMM. “We hope, the GJMM will respect norms of democracy during the election,” he said.