Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the programme of Tamang Development Board in Kalimpong on Friday (Darpan pic)
Writes: Deep Gazmer for TNN
KALIMPONG: In an attempt to consolidate the party’s voteshare gains in the 2016 assembly polls, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday indicated her keenness to conduct polls in the four Hills municipalities -Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik -before their tenure ends in December.
Mamata said the state will request the State Election Commission to complete the formalities soon. The CM also indicated that elections to the 112 gram panchayats in the Hills (which have not been held since 2000) will also be held soon. In saying so, she threw the gauntlet at the GJM which has been demanding three-tier panchayat polls.”The zilla parishad has to be decided in consultation with Centre (since it would require constitutional amend ments),” she said.
While the GJM had swept the assembly polls in the Hills, its vote-share had dropped remarkably in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. The ruling Trinamool has been further bolstered by some high-profile defections of top GJM leaders. The strategic induction of senior-level local leaders has overcome the party’s handicap of para-dropping leaders to helm the fightback against the formidable GJM. Expectedly , Mamata’s announcements in Kalimpong were met with a studied silence by the GJM leadership who are likely to weigh the implications first. Mamata did not take na mes, but in an obvious reference to the GJM-run Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, alleged: “No development has taken place in the Hills in the last four years even though we have pumped in Rs 4,000 crore in both planned and non-planned expenditure. We don’t have our MLA, MP or councillors in the Hills. But we have to work for the people which is why we will continue to form development boards in the Hills.” The CM arrived in Ka limpong on Wednesday evening to attend the fifth foundation day program of the Lepcha board. On Thursday , the CM announced boards for the Bhujel, Khas and Newar communities, while the Gurungs will have their after the Puja festivities.
Mamata said, “I lost in the election (assembly) in the Hills but did not feel bad. It was your (voter’s) choice and I respect it. But I know and believe that people will change their thinking one day and so I will continue to work for them,” she said.
The CM inaugurated five projects which include eight new cottages at the Morgan House tourist lodge, a treasury building and a HDYU unit in the Kalimpong sub-division hospital and a police station and barrack at Sukhiapokhari along with a minority bhawan in Darjeeling. She also laid the foundation stone for a community hall at JorebungalowSukhiapokhari.
We Will Not Tolerate Any Trouble In Darjeeling Hills: Mamata Banerjee
Kalimpong: In a stern warning to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said her government would not tolerate any attempt to foment trouble in the Darjeeling hills.
“Whenever there is an election, they talk of violence and bandhs. We will not tolerate this,” she said at a programme of Tamang development board.
GJM chief Bimal Gurung said the Chief Minister stated that Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was given Rs. 4000 (rptng 4000) crore by the state government.
“Let her give the details of the amount by September 27. Failing which we will call a bandh on September 28,” he said.
Ms Banerjee said that instead of working for development, they are indulging in politics.
“We want peace in hills. We will not allow violence. Enough is enough. We must work for development. We have developed Lamahatta, Mirik, Tiger Hill, Lava Lolegaon. But they want to destroy it all by violence,” she said.
“We will not stop the process of development in the hills. We want people to get employment. We are here to address the issues of the hills. If the hills smile, we will smile,” she said.
Referring to her frequent visit to the hills which some Opposition parties had objected to, the Chief Minister expresses surprise why they are “angry” over her visits to the hills.
“We never feel angry if they visit Siliguri,” she pointed out.
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