ELECTION

PA Sangma to campaign for Bangshi Badan Barman

COOCH BEHAR, April 20: The supporters of the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) took out a procession in Cooch Behar town today. They were campaigning in favour of their candidate in Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency, Mr Bangshi Badan Barman. Supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) also joined the procession. Similar rallies have been held at Dinhata, Mathabhanga, Tufanganj and Mekhliganj sub-divisions, GCDP sources claimed.

GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said they were trying to bail out their candidate form the jail. A petition is being submitted to the High Court today and it is expected that the hearing for it will commence soon, he said. If Mr Barman can come out from the jail he will be the chief speaker and the main crowd puller in the election meetings, the GCDP president said.

To add wind to the poll spirit a senior NCP leader Mr PA Sangma may come to Cooch Behar soon to campaign in support of the GCDP candidate. As he is suffering from some ailments he flew back to Delhi yesterday to avail medical treatment there, Mr Barma said.

He may come again here to canvass for the GCDP candidate, Mr Barma added.

Mentionworthy, Mr Sangma met Mr Bangshi Badan Barman and other 'Greater Cooch Behar' activists in Cooch Behar District Correctional Home yesterday morning. He went there accompanied by a senior lawyer from the Supreme Court, Mr Amit Kumar and GCDP general secretary Mr Phanindra Nath Barman. Later, Mr Sangma told the media persons that he came to discuss all aspects related to the bail petition with the jailed 'Greater Cooch Behar' leader who was fielded as the GCDP candidate. He should get the opportunity to canvass like other candidates and so he should get released on bail. A lawyer of the Supreme Court has been engaged to move the court for his bail, Mr Sangma said.

The NCP leader also said that they were extending support to the GCDP candidate in the Lok Sabha election because they support the GCDP's movement for mother tongue.

Today, the GCDP president said, "Mr Sangma expressed the NCP's support to our language demand. But, as we are fighting for a separate state the NCP's support should be considered as their support to our struggle for the proposed separate state."

Not only the NCP and the KPP but also grass-root level activists of all political parties are to vote for the GCDP candidate in the Lok Sabha election though they are not saying anything openly, claimed the GCDP president. "From tomorrow we will campaign with cut-outs and pictures of our candidate boarding on rickshaw-vans at all rural areas", Mr Barma said.