Didi hints at early polls to local bodies in Hills

Deep Gazmer | TNN | Sep 23, 2016, 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.