Gorkha community to represent itself in Himachal Assembly polls

DHARAMSHALA: In upcoming assembly polls of Himachal Pradesh, the Gorkha community will also give its representation as they would give their own candidate this time. Community has claimed that it was for the first time in last 20 years. Gorkha’s said that they were annoyed from political parties in Himachal.Polls are due within month and likely to take place in November this year.
Traditionally the Gorkha community had been vote bank of congress but this time the community was trying to assert itself politically.Community has a significant population in Dharamshala assembly segment of state. They have announced to field its candidate in the assembly elections and have picked up former banker Ravinder Singh Rana as their nominee. Population of the community is around 10000 in constituency. A meeting in this regard was also held at Dari locality to chalk strategy for upcoming assembly polls on September 1st this month.
Heads of as many as 18 Gorkha dominated villagers participated in the meeting and pledged their support to candidate picked by the community. Face of the community in upcoming polls, Ravinder Rana alleged that political parties have always ignored the Gorkha community and used them as a vote bank.
He said that Gorkha were particularly disappointed with the Congress. “The local legislator and urban development minister Sudhir Sharma has hurt the sentiments Gorkhas by ignoring the community,” alleged Rana. Further, he added that first the minister did not bothered to attend cremation of Major Shikhar Thapa, who was recently killed by a solider at forward post on LoC, despite being present in the constituency.
Rana said that the minister also did not attended the 100th founding anniversary of Gorkha association and also the closing ceremony of All India Shaheed Durga Mal Dal Bahardur Football tournament, organized in memory of two martyrs belonging to the community. Rana also thanked the people of the community for coming forward in his support and will be holding a march in support of their candidate on September 8, 2017.