Darjeeling, Dec. 9: The newly-formed People’s Democratic Front (PDF), a coalition of six parties opposing the GNLF, has decided to keep its doors open “until the last moment” for the CPM-led Left Democratic Front in case the party had a change of mind.
The Opposition was split into two after the Left Front stayed away from the PDF, cobbling together its own alliance instead to fight the GNLF in the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council election in March next year.
The LDF, however, left out Congress (Hills) and the BJP.
At a meeting held at MLA D.K. Pradhan’s house in Darjeeling, PDF leaders agreed to take in the LDF “even at the last moment”.
The PDF’s eagerness to get the support of the Left Front stems from the latter’s significant base in the hills. It will be difficult to take on the GNLF without a strong political ally since none of the constituents of the PDF can give the ruling party a competition.
The PDF comprises the CPRM, Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League, GNLF(C), Congress (Hills), BJP and the Gorkha Democratic Front.
It is also testimony to the clout wielded by the Left Front in the hills.
The party has also been accused of forming the LDF for indirectly helping the GNLF to split Opposition votes in the coming elections.
“We have extended our appeal not only to the LDF but to all social and non-political organisations willing to join hands against the GNLF. We have decided to select candidates with merit for the DGHC election and that does not mean only political leaders will be fielded. It could be any candidate,” said Pradhan.
“We will hold a public rally on December 17 in Darjeeling and in January we will organise similar meetings at Kurseong and Kalimpong. By the end of January, we will announce our office-bearers,” said Sawan Rai, coordinator of the PDF.
The PDF is now faced with a difficult task since it has to erase from public’s memory the earlier performance of the United Front coalition.
In the 1999 poll, two elected United Front candidates switched over to the GNLF camp, resulting in the disintegration of the coalition.
To prevent a repeat of history, the leaders have broadly agreed on a code of conduct, which is likely to be announced in the next meeting.
Some of the partymen, however, felt the code was redundant since it was not a legal binding.
The PDF has also demanded the DGHC election be held in March, when it is due, instead of being postponed.
Since the DGHC poll is not conducted by the Election Commission — it is the responsibility of the hill affairs department — there has been speculation among the PDF that the state government might pass an ordinance to defer the election.
