BJP in favour of Gorkhaland: SS Ahluwalia

Siliguri (

), March 19:

vice president and nominee for the Darjeeling LS seat, S S Ahluwalia today voiced support to the formation of a separate state of

. "The BJP has always supported creation of smaller states as Jharkhand and Chattisgarh and was in favour of Telangana and so Gorkhaland should also be formed", Ahluwalia told reporters here.

Criticising the Trinamool Congress government of West Bengal, the party nominee alleged that while it was not supporting the demand for withdrawal of cases filed against those during the Gorkhaland agitation, the ruling party members who were involved were being spared. Claiming that the demand for a separate hill state was not against the constitution, Ahluwalia predicted the BJP alone will be capable to form the next government in the country.

The BJP is in favour of forming smaller states, Ahluwalia said

Ahluwalia will be challenged by former footballer Baichung Bhutia of the Trinamool Congress and Sujay Ghatak of the Congress. In 2009, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Jaswant Singh won from Darjeeling. Like in 2009, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has backed the BJP candidate this time also.

PTI