Click to play videoDarjeeling: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh is contesting Lok Sabha elections from Darjeeling and with the overwhelmingly popular Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) backing him, the BJP is hoping for a cakewalk in the region.
Addressing an election rally Jaswant Singh said, "I want to raise your voice in Delhi."
GJM entered into a pre-poll alliance with BJP-led National Democratic Alliance after the latter promised to take forward their demand for a separate Gorkhaland to be carved out of Darjeeling and parts of the Siliguri plains.
With the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and Congress fielding their candidates, too, Jaswant is being careful and not favouring any particular community.
"Every segment of society has been spoken to. Yes there are voters who are not Gorkhas but the support I have received is remarkable. I am hopeful," said Jaswant.
Darjeeling is famous for its tea and tourism and has a total electorate over 12 lakh.
During the last elections, the Congress with support from Subash Ghising's Gorkha National Liberation Front defeated the CPI-M by 1.14 lakh votes.
But now Jaswant is certain he will be riding the wave of support the separate Gorkhaland demand is getting in the region.
"We want Gorkhaland and he will take our message to the national level and we want him to win," said a Darjeeling resident Lepong Dorji
With Jaswant getting overwhelming support from the Gorkha, Darjeeling could well be a permanent destination for BJP in years to come.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
 |
 |
 |
|
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
