A section of Lepchas casts vote defying call for boycott

SILIGURI, 18 APRIL: Defying the vote-boycott call by the Darjeeling Hill-based Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA), a large section of the Lepcha community today cast votes, particularly in Kalimpong sub-division where the community has a sizable presence.
Notably, the ILTA has gone for the boycott, protesting against the under-development of the community and the government’s indifference to its worsening plight in the fast-changing economic and political trajectory of the Darjeeling Hills. But another organisation, Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Forum, representing the same Lepcha cause, challenged the ILTA boycott decision and asked the community to exercise franchise. The ILTF president, Mr PT Simick Lepcha, said that the poll-boycott decision taken by the ILTA was detrimental to the interests of the community as a whole. “It is an ill-timed decision. We have to remain involved in the process of the participatory democracy to have the collective aspirations fulfilled,” he said. ILTA president Mr LS Tamsang Lepcha earlier said that the mainstream politics in the state had long consigned the community to the periphery. “We are the original residents of the Hills. Yet, we are at the receiving end of the development momentum as we have been reduced to a minority. What is the use of casting votes when we are convinced that we would remain mired in the twilight,’’ he said. Enthused by the Lepchas participating in the election in large numbers in Kalimpong sub-division, the GJMM candidate from the constituency said that it would further improve his prospect of winning the election. sns