GJMM stand on rural elections

SNS, SILIGURI, 1 APRIL 2018: Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Binoy Tamang today said he will on 5 April make his party's stand clear on the issue of panchayat elections in the Terai and the Dooars.

Addressing reporters at the Siliguri Journalists' Club this evening, Mr Tamang said his party's central and core committees will hold a meeting at Bagrakote in the Dooars on 5 April and decide on the role his party will play in the rural polls that will be held in three phases in May. Asked to comment on whether the GJMM will contest the elections or support the ruling party. Trinamul Congress. Mr Tamang just said his party will decide on it on 5 April.

Mr Tamang, who is also the chairman of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Board of Administrators further said that a "group" has blamed the GTA for the state election commission on not conducting the rural polls in the Hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

Given the legal hurdles to holding such polls in the hills Mr Tamang said that such elections in the Hills are not possible without first amending the Constitution.

Tamang also said that top railway officials will hold a meeting with the GTA on Sikkim's Sevoke-Rangpo railway line on 4 April in Darjeeling "after accepting our demand."

"The GTA will extend cooperation to them by giving the NOC. Many problems have been resolved after a meeting with the two chief ministers (Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling and our detailed discussions with Mr Chamling on 27 March," he said.

"In order to maintain a good relationship between Bengal and Sikkim, I have proposed constructing four alternative roads from Darjeeling after building four bridges. The routes will be alternative routes for the National Highway- 10 (that connects Sikkim to the rest of the country) when ever the highway is closed due to natural calamities. I have ensured that NH 10 is a strike- free zone," he said.

According to Mr Tamang, the GJMM committee has decided to strengthen the party organization and bring in development through the GTA. The GTA is scheduled to hold another programme at Mungpo in Darjeeling on 14 April to showcase the series of development work it has done in the past six months.