TMC’s loss cannot be called as GNLF’s loss: Phurtemba Bhutia

EOI

Darjeeling : Sukhaypokari GNLF unit president Phurtemba Bhutia said the TMC’s loss in the Lok Sabha Election 2014 cannot be called as the GNLF’s loss as majority of the votes garnered by the state’s ruling front is from the GNLF support base. “The TMC received 93,000 votes in the LS election and almost all of them are from our party’s support base, therefore anyone calling this election as GNLF’s loss is not correct. In fact, the 93,000 votes garnered from our support base prove that we are still a formidable political force in Darjeeling, even after being dormant for a long time” he explained. He also demanded the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council should be upgraded and the Sixth Schedule should be implemented in the hills. “The party is demanding the implementation of the Sixth Schedule keeping in mind the formation of Gorkhaland,” he claimed. Bhutia also said he was happy the GJM has assured the formation of Gorkhaland within the tenure of BJP-led government in the centre. “If this happens, I will be the first one to congratulate the two parties,” he added. He also took the opportunity to thank the GNLF supporters from the area for following the orders of their chief Subhash Ghishing and voting for TMC candidate Bhaichung Bhutia.