Highlighting issues related to infrastructure demands that have not been met at the Siliguri Court, lawyers backed by the Bharatya Janta Party (BJP) are fielding 12 candidates for 12 posts in the upcoming Siliguri Bar Association (SBA) elections.

While the BJP makes such moves, the Congress-backed Darjeeling District Congress Lawyer’s Cell (DDCLC) and the Left-backed All India Lawyers’ Union (AILU) have adopted a seat-sharing formula like the previous year.

The election is slated for 27 April, while 15 seats are out for grabs. The poll results are expected to be out on 28 April. “BJP has fielded 12 candidates to contest the polls in the upcoming SBA elections. We are focusing on basic necessities of courtrooms. The record room has constraints of space and court rooms are not spacious enough to accommodate advocates inside. Case-related documents are missing. We are focusing such issues in the upcoming election,” said BJP lawyers’ cell President Partho Pal.

“Sudipto Mazumdar will be contesting the post of the President from the BJP,” he added. The BJP has fielded candidates for the post of President, Vice president, Secretary, two Assistant Secretaries, Librarian and six candidates for the post of executive council members, it is learnt. Meanwhile, the Congresses and the Left Front have decided to contest the elections under a seat-sharing formula.

The Congress is fielding 10 candidates for the post of President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and librarian, and six candidates for the post of executive council members. Meanwhile, the Left is tossing five candidates for the post of Vice president, Assistant Secretary and three for the post of executive council.

“We are confident of wins this time also,” said President of the DDCLC, Gangotri Dutta. Outgoing secretary of the DDCLC Chandan Dey said they are contesting in an alliance like last year and that they are hopeful of victory.

“This time, the Congress is fielding the former mayor of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) Gangotri Dutta for the post of President,” Mr Dey added.

Trinamul Congress Legal Cell (TMCLC) is also hopeful about a win. The TMCLC’s outgoing president Pijush Kanti Ghosh said the SBA election should not be compared with politics.

“A court is not a place for politics, and if politics enters here, the judiciary system may be affected,” Mr Ghosh said. “This time, we are fielding Gurindar Singh Bhogal as the candidate for the post of the President,” Mr Ghosh said.