Darjeeling: Two bhoomiputras have withdrawn from the Lok Sabha contest in Darjeeling, where the main contenders are GJM (Tamang)-Trinamool and GJM (Gurung)-BJP.
R B Rai of Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist and Swaraj Thapa (GJM-Gurung) withdrew their nominations. While a CPRM spokesperson spoke of unity among Gorkhas, Thapa said votes should not go to parties that oppose the concept of Gorkhaland. Chhetri said his party would take 3-4 days to announce which side it would support.
According to Thapa, he had filed his nomination to create awareness among Hill voters not to accept outsiders as candidates. On the final day of withdrawal of nominations, only 16 candidates remained in the fray. Originally, 21 people had filed nominations. Had all remained, two balloting units would have been required as one can accommodate only 16 names.(TOI)