COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 21: Political parties expressed mixed reactions over the news of formation of a new political party by The Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA). GCPA is known for its movement to get C-category state status for Cooch Behar. Till recently it propagated against holding of West Bengal Assembly elections in Cooch Behar. 

Cooch Behar District Left Front convenor Mr Chandi Pal said over phone from Banga Bhavan in New Delhi today that they are not giving any additional importance to the new party. It will bring no good for the people of Cooch Behar. Common people already identified them. The GCPA transformed itself from Hitasadhani Sabha, Uttarkhanda Dal etc but failed to influence the common people. Now they are trying to exert influence with a political party. They are like Bahurupee, Mr Pal said. 

Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress president Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh said that anyone could operate a political party if it guides itself following the norms of parliamentary democracy. But is the Trinamul Congress ready to make any alliance with the newly formed GCDP? Mr Ghosh replied that it is not the proper time to think over it. If they want to fight against the CPI-M, the Trinamul Congress may work with them but prior to that they will have to ask for permission from the party’s high command, Mr Ghosh added. 

AICC member and a senior leader of Cooch Behar District Congress Mrs Sabita Roy termed the formation of the new party as another trick of the CPI-M. It is nothing but a blue print of the CPI-M to reap votes in the next three-tier panchayat elections, she said. At the same time she said that it should be viewed that whether the new party follows parliamentary system of politics or not. Mrs Roy believes that the CPI-M will be benefited with the new party. 

RSP’s Cooch Behar district secretariat member Mr Ranajit Deb expressed his satisfaction over the formation of a new party by the GCPA because it came back to the mainstream politics. The movement conducted by the GCPA was never beneficial for the common people of Cooch Behar. Now they expressed their faith in parliamentary form of democracy and it is a welcome gesture, he added. []

1 killed, 6 injured in lightning 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 21: One person was killed and six others were injured in thunderbolt during a thunderstorm that occurred at different places in Mathabhanga sub-division at about 1-30 p.m. today. The killed one was identified as Sofiar Mian (19) of Pachagarh. The injured are Ms Rekha Barman, Ms Arati Barman, Ms Tripti Pal, Ms Nayan Dey, Ms Gita Pal and Ms Sandhya Barman. They are residents of Pachagarh, Dakghara, Rangamati and Baro Kaoardera. Among the six, the condition of four is serious according to local sources. [] 

Forward Bloc’s youth wing on war path 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 21: The Cooch Behar district unit of All India Youth League (AIYL), the youth wing of Forward Bloc organised sit-in demonstrations in front of the district magistrate’s office and all the SDO offices today. The programme was organised following a decision that was adopted in July according to a state secretariat member of AIYL and also the district unit general secretary Mr Abdur Rauf. 

During the sit-in demonstration the AIYL leaders highlighted a charter of four demands in their speeches. They demanded Cooch Behar to be declared as a drought affected area and alternate cultivation facilities to the affected farmers. They also demanded employment to the unemployed youths. The North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) suffering from various disorders and it needs modernisation and improvement, Mr Rauf added. []