Hill people eager for Panchayat Elections

EOI, Mirik, 21 April 2014: With the Lok Sabha Elections wrapped up in Darjeeling Hills and people eagerly waiting May 16 for the results, some sections of the hill populace are now demanding for Panchayat Elections. Following the one back in 2000 under the then Hill council Darjeeling Gorkha Parisad, there have been no Panchayat elections in the Last 14 years. There were changes in the leadership and councils, but the panchayat election never happened.

There were talks about conducting a three-tire panchayat election which never materialized, as it could only be done after making a few amendments in the laws pertaining to conducting such elections. A proposal for a three-tire panchayat election was forwarded by the state to the central government and both ruling and opposition parties in the hills had also given their consent. However, there has been no positive development on that front ether.

The lack of panchayats has affected many areas, especially the rural sector where overall development and benefits through panchayat system are yet to reach. In such a situation people have started raising question on why the panchayat elections are not being conducted.

The state’s ruling TMC government has hinted there will be Panchayat elections during June and July. Discussions for the same are being felicitated by the government and hopefully the elections will take place this year.

GNLF’s long standing demand for the implementation of the Sixth Schedule had also earlier during their tenure given hope for panchayat election in the hills. However, with the change in ruling front and the formation of Gorkha Territorial Administration, the ruling GJM discarded the proposal and has since been shelved. It now remains to be seen what changes LS elections result would bring in the hills and the stand the winning party will take on the panchayat elections.