LOK SABHA ELECTION

KPP to support BJP, GCPA too

COOCH BEHAR, April 27: The Kamtapur People's party has withdrawn its candidate in Cooch Behar (SC) Parliamentary constituency. Instead, it expressed its support to the BJP candidate in this seat. Yesterday, at an election meeting that held at Tufanganj, the KPP candidate Mr Nubas Barman appealed the voters to cast their votes in favour of the BJP candidate Mr Bhabendra Nath Barman. An eminent BJP leader Mr Tapan Sikdar was also present in the meeting.

KPP sources said they got assurance from the BJP that if it came to power it would table bills in the Parliament on formation of the proposed Kamtapuri state and recognition of Kamtapuri language. Following the BJP's assurance they have decided to extend support to the BJP candidate, KPP sources explained.

Mr Sikdar said the proponents of a separate state never said that they want to get out of India. They demanded formation of a separate state under the framework of the Indian Constitution and it is no crime, the BJP leader clarified.

Till recently, The Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) was appealing to the Centre to form a caretaker ministry in the territory of the proposed Greater Cooch Behar state and cancellation of election process in this region. Now, they too came out to extend support to the BJP. As BJP supported their demands they decided to support the BJP candidate, GCPA sources said. The GCPA already asked its activists to campaign in support of the BJP candidate, a senior GCPA leader said.

The BJP's state committee member and also secretary of the party's district unit, Mr Nikhil Ranjan Dey said the decision of withdrawal of the KPP candidate in favour of the BJP candidate and the GCPA's support may yield a good result. Till now, neither the CPI-M nor the Congress paid any heed to the demands and grievances of the people of north Bengal. The BJP will try to solve the demands of a separate state and recognition of Kamtapuri language over the table under Constitutional framework. "But, it is not true that we are supporting another division of Bengal", Mr Dey said.

It may be mentioned here that another organisation (Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party) that believes in formation of a separate Greater Cooch Behar state has fielded Mr Bangshi Badan Barman in the poll fray. The GCDP is enjoying support of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP). 

PHOTO : Joint road-show of the Congress and the Trinamul Congress with Trinamul candidate Mr Arghya Roy Pradhan. In Cooch Behar on Monday.