KPP-NCP merger talks

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THE STATESMAN JUNE 5, 2009

KPP-NCP merger talks
SILIGURI, 4 JUNE: Talks are on between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the north Bengal-based Kamtapur Progressive Party (KPP) for a possible merger.Sources said KPP president Mr Atul Roy floated the proposal for a merger with the NCP in March after the NCP general secretary, Mr PA Sangma, had announced support to the demand for Constitutional recognition of the Kamtapuri language. The NCP is also eyeing to take into its fold another Kamtapuri faction ~ the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCDP) ~ which too thrives on the socio-political aspirations of the Kamtapuri community. “Talks are moving ahead in a positive direction with Mr Sangma personally handling the matter. What we are planning is to merge both the KPP and the GCDP in the NCP, but not obliterating their identity overnight,” said Mr Ratan Shome ~ the NCP West Bengal in-charge and a close aide of Mr Sangma. Though no timeframe has been fixed yet for the proposed mergers ~ it could happen as early as mid July or even a few months later. Two separate merger ceremonies ~ one in Jalpaiguri for the KPP and another in Cooch Behar for the GCDP, are being planned. But there are two issues that are delaying the merger. First, while the KPP wants the NCP to recognise its demand for a separate Kamtapur state, the NCP is not willing to stretch beyond the language demand at this juncture. Secondly, the GDCP founder president Mr Bansibadan Burman and other important leaders of the faction are currently lodged in jail. The GCDP is insisting on their release before agreeing to the merger.According to the KPP president, Mr Atul Roy, while the merger with the NCP is yet to take a final shape, they have already taken a plunge to establish the NCP in north Bengal. “We have offered to merge with the NCP on certain conditions pertaining to the Kamtapuri aspirations and the negotiations are still on. But right now, what we are focusing on is to establish the NCP in north Bengal as an alternative to both the Left and the Congress-Trinamul combine,” the KPP president said. Towards this end, the KPP members have now filed their nominations as NCP candidates for the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad polls slated for 28 June. ;Bappaditya Paul