GTA election in Darjeeling hills remained peaceful
SILIGURI: After years long political debate and administrative complicacies, finally the first election of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA)in Darjeeling hills took place today peacefully. Though it remained just as a formality with actually only Gorklha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) candidates on the turf, administration had to carry out entire electioneering procedure in 17 out of 45 seats of the body. "The election today remained peaceful without any major untoward incident," said DM Darjeeling Mr. S. Mohan.
"We are happy that finally we could have the election," said Mr. Roshan Giri, General Secretary of GJM. Interestingly, the fate of the GTA board got decided much earlier after withdrawal of candidates by all political parties including CPIM or Gorkha League raising complains against GJM for 'not allowing the election to remain a free and fair one.' Out of 45 seats, GJM won in 28 seats without any contest. But there were candidates nominated by Trinamool Congress, main ruling party of West Bengal and close friend of GJM giving birth of confusion.
But putting the confusion to an end, TMC Supremo Miss Mamata Banerjee have announced withdrawal of all these candidates on 21 stJuly. But, since official time for withdrawal of nomination was over by then, the administration had to continue with entire electioneering formalities today. However, CPIM leader and ex state Minister Mr. Ashok Bhattacharya has labeled the election as a 'Political Drama' by an 'Unholy nexus of TMC and GJM.' Congress always preferred remaining silence on the issue. But TMC leader and North Bengal Development Minister Mr. Gautam Dev said, "After allowing Gorkha National Liberation Front, that used to rule Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council(DGHC), to remain in power year after year without election, CPIM does not have any right to complain against TMC now on this."
GTA is an autonomous body with higher financial and administrative power than a District Development Board. This is to replace DGHC, formed in 1988 for administration of hills. Conceptualized to be formed under new GTA act, GTA is the final outcome of an agreement signed in 2011 between West Bengal state Government and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, the party that has been demanding separate statehood for Darjeeling since its upraise in 2007.
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