Verdict hinges on Modi & Didi moves - Hill polls fought on development board cards played by the Centre, state and GTA

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha candidate Amar Singh Rai campaigns in Darjeeling
on Thursday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, April 14: Narendra Modi has never climbed up the Darjeeling hills and even Mamata Banerjee who is known to frequent the place at the drop of a hat limited her visit to Kurseong during her poll campaign this year.

But the shadows of both the leaders are looming large over the political chessboard of Darjeeling and this election is expected to be a test of their trump cards.

Darjeeling will vote on April 17.

Mamata was the first to check-mate Bimal Gurung's clout in the hills. She formed seven development boards - for the Lepcha, Tamang, Sherpa, Bhutia, Mangar, Limbu and Rai communities. The last five were created in the past one year. A subtle message on such boards had also been sent to the Schedule Caste and Bhujel community.

The seven communities cover more than 35 per cent of the 8.75 lakh hill population.

During the last Parliamentary elections in 2014, only the Lepcha board had been formed and an announcement had been made to create a board for the Tamangs.

The boards seem to have been making some impact on Bimal Gurung, the president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, who announced the formation of 19 development boards by the GTA, along with Rs 5 crore for each, just before the elections were announced this time.

Gurung said: "She formed boards for select communities and is trying to divide the hill community. We, on the other hand, have formed boards for all communities and are trying to unite the community."

While Gurung was trying hard to counter Mamata's board card, Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri's decision to quit the Morcha and Mamata's promise to upgrade Kalimpong subdivision into a district was a double whammy for the hill party.

Just when it seemed that Gurung was left with only one issue, Gorkhaland for the identity and unity of the Indian Gorkhas, Modi revealed his card subtly.

On April 2, when the model code of conduct was already in place, the Union ministry of tribal affairs issued an order constituting a committee to examine and recommend the demand of granting tribal status to Gorkha communities. Roopak Chaudhuri, deputy secretary, Union ministry of tribal affairs, in an order said: "It has been decided to constitute a committee headed by Shri Ashok Pal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs to examine and recommend regarding granting of Schedule Tribe Status to eleven communities namely Bhujel, Gurung, Mangar, Newar, Jogi, Khas, Rai, Sunwar, Thami, Yakkha (Dewan) and Dhimal living in Sikkim and other Gorkha dominated states and areas."

While only Sikkim state was mentioned, the words "other Gorkha dominated states and areas" made an impact in Darjeeling and put anti-Morcha parties on back foot. The 10 hill communities - Dhimals live in the plains - make up more than 55 per cent of the population.

Modi's main focus during his speech near Siliguri on April 7 was on the committee.

Jan Andolan Party president Chhetri had said the announcement of the committee was in violation of the model code of conduct. The party, however, decided not to complain to the Election Commission - probably fearing that such a move would antagonise the 11 communities - and instead decided to "tackle the issue politically".

The CPRM today decided to file a complaint with the EC. "... to our utter surprise, the central government announced that a committee is going to be formed by the Centre ... which is a blatant violation of the model code of conduct," said R.B. Rai, president of CPRM.

Both Mamata and Modi scorecards will be revealed only on May 19.