Gorkha Janamukti Morcha to contest Panchayat Elections

SILIGURI: After failing to get adjoining tea belt of Darjeeling hills under own command through Gorkhaland Territorial Administration(GTA), Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM) is now taking strategic path of utilizing panchayat election to have own dreams fulfilled. GJM is going to file its candidates for nearly 200 mouzas in foothills of Dooars and Terai. The party has successfully brewed up a friendship with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and a faction of Tribal communities to fight jointly in these locations. "Our major thrust will remain on the 196 mouzas we have asked to be left under GTA," said M Thapa, a senior GJM leader from foothills. "Our central committee leaders will start campaigning in these areas soon," he added. These foothills areas yield nearly 25% of nation's entire tea output. 

During negotiation with center and state to have a separate administrative body GTA for the hills after 5 years long movement with the demand of separate state hood for Darjeeling hills in the name of Gorkhaland, GJM demanded entire foothills too under GTA. But, as that would generate massive resentment amongst common mass in foothills against the state Government, the state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a strategic path to form a fact finding body. After around a year, pouring water to GJM's dream, the body recommended only 5 mouzas against demanded 196, to be given under GTA that was by then under ruling of GJM. "It is unacceptable,"" GJM president Mr. Bimal Gurng said then. But surprisingly, he did not launch any serious movement against this. 

Clear enough, he wanted to take a path of re- negotiation. "Now he is going to get control of these areas through panchayat election, far smoother path compared to aggressive movement," said political observers. Though the political picture is gradually taking more and more complicated look every day, as of now, while GJM is with JMM and a faction of Tribals, Trinamool Congress on the other side has successfully managed to have the mainstream organization of tribals, Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad, in own side. "Whatever be the picture on surface, TMC and GJM have underground understanding and TMC has always been helping GJM to gain benefits," said ex Minister and senior CPIM leader Ashok Bhattacharya. TMC leader and Minister Gautam Dev however reserved his comment on this. 

Posted by Unknown on 23:31. Filed under darjeeling, GJM, गोरखा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा, सिलीगुड़ी, सिलीगुड़ी . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Feel free to leave a response