Kolkata: Snubbing Trinamool Congress fielded ex-football star Bhaichung Bhutia from Darjeeling in West Bengal, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on Monday announced extending support to the BJP, which it has been in a long-term alliance.
“After meeting BJP President Rajnath Singh, the GJM has decided to extend full support to candidates fielded by BJP all over India and Darjeeling. I would appeal to all Gorkhas to support BJP all over India,” GJM chief Bimal Gurung said through social media website Facebook.
Rajnath Singh said in New Delhi on Monday that “Gurung has decided to support the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls”.
The GJM’s support had enabled BJP’s Jaswant Singh to bag the Darjeeling seat in 2009.
The BJP is yet to announce its candidate for Darjeeling.
While the GJM had ruled out extending support to Bhutia contending “he was from Sikkim and not a politician”, the former India captain has been seeking the Gorkha outfit’s support.
However, the football star had to face the ire of his own partymen when Trinamool Darjeeling district vice president Rajen Tamang loudly protested at a news conference after Bhutia wished to get GJM’s support. (IANS)