Three pro-Kamtapur parties to fight jointly

 

 COOCH BEHAR, April 8: A new alliance of three pro-Kamtapur parties came up in Cooch Behar to fight the panchayat elections in the next month. Though the three-party alliance was formed it was not yet christened with any particular name.

 

The leaders of Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP), Kamtapur Progressive Party and Kamtapur People's Party sat across the table a few days ago in Cooch Behar and formed the alliance. It was decided that the new alliance would contest in all the seats in Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad tiers.

 

President of the GCDP, Mr Ashutosh Barma said today that the alliance was constituted with the three like-minded parties who are proponents of a separate Greater Cooch Behar state. "Our common demand is formation of a separate state following the merger agreement by which the erstwhile princely state of Cooch Behar was included into the Union of India", he said. "From now on, these three parties will not only contest jointly in the panchayat polls but also fight together for a separate state and recognition of our mother tongue", he added.

 

Replying a question Mr Barma said they might enter into any alliance or share seats with any party that supports their demand for constituting of a separate state.

 

It was learnt from GCDP sources that group meetings of party workers and poll campaigns being held at block level in Cooch Behar district for the upcoming panchayat elections. A large gathering will also be held in Cooch Behar town where Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) president Mr Bimal Gurung is expected to be present as a speaker. The date of the meeting is yet to be finalised, GCDP sources said.

 

When asked about the proposed fast-unto-death programme of the GCDP that was declared to be held in April, Mr Barma said the programme was differed in an executive committee meeting of the party held on 6 April. "As we will be busy with the panchayat elections in April and May we will wait for the response from the government's end about our demands of carving a Greater Cooch Behar state out of West Bengal and recognition of our mother tongue." After the election they will launch the fast-unto-death programme at the office premises of the district magistrate of Cooch Behar or at Shahid Baag," the GCDP president declared. []