Congress candidate Munish Tamang files nomination for Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat

DARJEELING,:  On the final day of nominations, Munish Tamang, the Congress candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha polls, filed his candidacy at the district magistrate's office here.

Preceding his formal nomination, a public meeting was held at P. Kothi, the headquarters of their alliance partner, Hamro Party. The meeting was also attended by leaders from CPIM, an alliance of INDIA bloc.

A rally then escorted Tamang till the district magistrate’s office.

“Today marks a pivotal moment for Darjeeling and its environs as the wind of change will start and you will see on June 4, when the results are out, the rejection of atrocities and falsehoods perpetuated by certain parties. This is just the beginning,” said Tamang.

Tamang outlined key priorities including longstanding regional issues and specific concerns such as tea garden matters including parja patta and unemployment.

“Being a national party, we will recognize the sentiment of Gorkhaland and will work on solutions. After the Congress party wins and the UPA government is formed, we will address this issue. It was the Congress party in the past that brought the Bill for 6th Schedule and we will restart from there and work towards a new beginning and a solution. We will revisit the Bill,” said Tamang.

Responding to questions about West Bengal Pradesh Congress general secretary Binoy Tamang going against his candidature, he said, “It was my party’s decision to make me the candidate. I have no personal competition against him and I hope that he will also support me and work for the issue of the Gorkhas.”

Congress district president Shankar Malakar said the presence of the Congress in the Hills has bolstered following the alliance with Hamro Party under the INDIA bloc. 

Meanwhile, Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards, addressing a gathering at their party office, criticized recent remarks by BJP leaders targeting Sikkim Chief Minister. He said, “The BJP Sikkim in-charge recently asked the ‘aukat’ of the Sikkim CM. We have only one Gorkha Nepali-speaking CM which is from Sikkim and when such statements are made, we feel bad for any Nepali from our country.”

Edwards accused Morcha leader Bimal Gurung, GNLF leader Mann Ghisingh and Raju Bista of staying silent on the matter. “They did not speak against the BJP Sikkim in-charge’s statement as when they are friends with the BJP, they cannot speak for our community, but we are free and we can speak against them. If we vote for such a party who speaks against the people of our community then where does our sincerity lie,” he added.

CPIM leader Saman Pathak said, “The Left Front parties are totally supporting the Congress candidate and we started campaigning the day Munish Tamang’s name was announced.”

Pathak advocated for the establishment of a constitutionally guaranteed body in Darjeeling.