Desertion 'gift' to CM

Vivek Chhetri and Avijit Sinha, TT, Darjeeling, Jan. 20: Mamata Banerjee reached Darjeeling on a day her party witnessed the switch of 285 families to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha amid allegations that the Trinamul government had failed to deliver on its promises to the hill people.

Morcha leader Binay Tamang said the desertion of the hill families was a "gift" to Mamata Banerjee a day before she is expected to appear on the same dais with Bimal Gurung.

The 285 families, from the Mahanadi-Tindharia and Takdah-Glenburn GTA constituencies, today accepted Morcha flags from Bimal Gurung at Malidhura, about 15km from Darjeeling town.

Chandra Bahadur Rai, the zonal president of the Trinamul trade union from Mahanadi-Tindharia who joined the Morcha today, said: "We had joined Trinamul two years ago. The party made a lot of promises. They talked about recruitment as home guards, providing employment and drinking water facilities. In two years it has been proved that everything is a lie."

Told about the chief minister's visit to Darjeeling today, Rai said: "She will come like she has done so many times before. She will promise a lot, will talk about turning Darjeeling into Switzerland. But in the end, nothing will happen."

D.B. Gurung, a former member of the Trinamul (hill) district youth committee, said: "We had joined Trinamul in October 2013 with the thought that the ruling party of the state would bring development to the village and the hills. There has been no development in our village, forget the hills. We have understood that it is only the GTA which will develop the hills and that is why we have decided to join the Morcha."

He added that the families joined the Morcha today "purposely as Mamata Banerjee is visiting Darjeeling".

Binny Sharma, the spokesman and general secretary of TMC (hills), when told about the switch over, said: "Our motive was peace and development and we are working towards it. Wherever our party formed units, the Morcha started doing development work and have tried to win over our supporters. In a way, our motive has been fulfilled to some extent.... We want people to benefit at the end."

Bimal Gurung, addressing the newly inducted members, said: "It is only the regional party that can understand the pain and suffering of our people. The history of the Darjeeling hills has always been about regional parties, and not about state and national parties who have always failed to understand our aspirations and hopes.... What did the Trinamul do for you since you joined their party? They will never understand your aspirations."

Binay Tamang, the assistant secretary of the Morcha, said: "The decision of the Trinamul supporters to join the Morcha today is a gift for Mamata Banerjee."

Tamang said Gurung would attend Mamata's programme at Dali in Darjeeling tomorrow.

"He might not be there for the function on January 23," said Tamang.

Sources said Gurung would leave for Nepal on January 22. Mamata is scheduled to appear at a police event tomorrow and attend Netaji's birth anniversary celebrations on January 23 at the Mall.

The Morcha today sent its representatives - Roshan Giri, a GTA Sabha member, Ramesh Allay, deputy chief of the GTA, and Trilok Dewan, Darjeeling MLA - to the inaugural of Uttar Banga Utsav in Siliguri.

Giri said: "Bimal Gurung will meet the chief minister tomorrow. Also, a bipartite meeting might be held with the state where we will mention that the transfer of departments to the GTA is yet to be done."