Voting peaceful in Darjeeling hills

Voting to fill up 17 seats in the newly-formed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in Darjeeling hills ended peacefully.

Darjeeling: Voting to fill up 17 seats in the newly-formed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in Darjeeling hills ended peacefully on Sunday.

Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said there had been no untoward incident from any part of the hills.

There are a total 45 seats in the GTA, 28 of which have been won uncontested by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha.

The CPI-M had earlier withdrawn from the contest. So did the Trinamool Congress, though at the last stage.
Some TMC nominees fought the election because, as they contended, they had not been communicated the party`s decision of withdrawal from the contest in time.

In 14 seats at Kalimpong and Darjeeling sub-divisions, candidates of the GJM, Trinamool Congress as well as an Independent candidate contested.

The Independent candidate is contesting against the GJM candidate at Nimdong constituency in Kalimpong.
Seventy per cent voters have exercised their franchise in these constituencies.

Voters of three booths -- Belgachi, Panighata and Sukna -- boycotted voting.
People of Belgachi and Panighata did not vote for any of the candidates as they do not want to join GTA. People in Sukna boycotted the polls as they felt there had been no development in the past few years.

PTI

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