Even as the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on Thursday welcomed BJP decision to field SS Ahluwalia from Darjeeling lok Sabha seat, Trinamool Congress set about to befriend its arch rival Gorkha National liberation Front, party sources said. “Talks are on with various outfits and we will see how things work out. As the Trinamool Congress is the strongest party in North Bengal it is possible that many outfits join hands with us,” said Gautam Deb the State Minister charged with North Bengal affairs.
Party sources said Trinamool was in touch with GNlF chief Subas Ghising and could also back its stand on including Darjeeling in Sixth Schedule as was planned by the earlier left Government following its talks with the GNlF. Meanwhile, senior GJM leader Roshan Giri on Thursday welcomed BJP’s decision to field Ahluwalia from Darjeeling saying “he will definitely win the elections” adding “alliance with the GJM will immediately make the position of the BJP stronger in two neighbouring constituencies of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri” where both the GJM and the saffron parties have very strong presence.