GJM announces support for Trinamool-Congress alliance in Bengal

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has announced that it will support the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance in Siliguri and Dooars in the coming assembly polls, but the announcement was criticised by the Trinamool Congress, who said the decision was "uncalled for".GJM chief Bimal Gurung last night announced at a press conference in Darjeeling that it would support the candidates of the Trinamool-Congress alliance in the six constituencies of  Malbazar, Kumargram, Dhupguri, Phulbari-Dabgram, Naxalbari and Phansidewa.However, the Trinamool Congress today said the GJM's unilateral decision had no backing from the party.Trinamool Congress all-India general secretary Mukul Roy and trusted confidant of Mamata Banerjee said, "The GJM's decision is totally uncalled for as there were no prior talks between the two parties in this regard."Roy went on to blame the development on a gameplan by the BJP and CPI(M), saying GJM, which is fighting for a separate state in the Darjeeling hills, was an ally of the BJP.Moreover, Banerjee had said categorically during her visit to the Darjeeling hills last year in connection with a railway programme that she was totally opposed to division of West Bengal, Roy argued."So how does the question of understanding between the two parties arise? It is nothing but an attempt at character assassination of our party," he asserted.The GJM has fielded its own candidates in Darjeeling, Kalchini, Kalimpong and Kurseong in the hills and will support a candidate of the Progressive People's Party at Nagrakata and a BJP candidate at Madarihart in the plains.The GJM decision has also unnerved the Left parties which fear the GJM's support to candidates of the Trinamool Congress -Congress alliance will lead to division of votes in at least 12 seats putting hurdles in the way of Left candidates winning from there.