GREATER COOCHBEHAR

NCP's support to GCDP's demand of separate state

COOCH BEHAR, April 6: The Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party had declared that they would submit nomination of their jailed candidate Mr Bangshi Badan Barman today. But, when they completed official formalities including preparing of the required documents the stipulated time was over. GCDP president Mr Ashutosh Barma said they would file the nomination tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) expressed its support to the GCDP. The Cooch Behar district unit president of the NCP, Ms Usha Roy said they would support the GCDP candidate in the election. She also declared their support to the formation of a separate Cooch Behar state, which was the main demand of the GCDP. Ms Roy said their senior leader Mr PA Sangma will come to Cooch Behar for electioneering in favour of Mr Barman. Moreover, the MPs of the NCP would raise the demand of formation of a separate Cooch Behar state on the floor of the parliament, the NCP leader added.

It may be recalled here that Mr Bangshi Badan Barman was nominated by the GCDP to fight the poll battle in Cooch Behar Parliamentary constituency. As an undertrial, Mr Barman is staying behind the bars since his surrender to the court on 25 May 2006 in connection with a large-scale violence that occurred in Cooch Behar on 20 September 2005. Five persons including one ASP, two policemen and two 'Greater Cooch Behar' supporters had to die during that violence. Presently, seven cases are running against Mr Barman and his associates.