Jalpaiguri, March 29: Chhatray Subba, accused of masterminding the assassination bid on GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh in 2001 and currently in a Jalpaiguri prison, today refused to contest as a CPRM candidate in the coming polls, saying he was not aware of the “ground realities”.

Sharan Dewan, a co-accused in the case, has also refused the offer of Assembly candidature. The CPRM had proposed that Subba could be fielded in Kalimpong and Dewan in Kurseong.

“It is not possible for me to assess the organisational strength of the CPRM by sitting here in the prison. I don’t want to be a pawn in the hands of any political party without having any clear idea of the ground realities. That is why I have turned down their offer,” Subba said while being brought to the Jalpaiguri District Court for a hearing in the case.

However, two other prisoners of the Jalpaiguri Central Jail have initiated the process of filing their nominations.

Wilson Champramari, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-backed independent MLA, signed his election papers today to contest from Kalchini. He was arrested in connection with the Sibchu violence on February 8.

Rajesh Lakra, a leader of the dissident faction of the Adivasi Vikas Parishad known as the Dooars Terai Adivasi Vikas Parishad, also sent the nomination papers from the prison today. Lakra has been in judicial custody ever since he was arrested for being allegedly involved in an arson attack. He will contest from Nagrakata.

Dissidents file papers

One more Congress dissident on Tuesday filed nomination to contest as an Independent. Chittaranjan Roy, the sitting Congress MLA of Raiganj, will contest from the new Hemtabad constituency. The Congress has allotted the seat to the party’s North Dinajpur district president Mohit Sengupta.

Rakbul Baksh, a Trinamul Congress rebel, also submitted nomination to fight the polls from Itahar. Trinamul had initially picked Baksh to contest from Itahar, but later gave the seat to Amal Acharya, who had crossed over from the Congress.