Primary work starts for elections to GTA

TT, Siliguri: The Darjeeling district administration has started the preliminary work for conducting polls to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration with sources hinting that the voting could take place even before the Lok Sabha elections next year.

"Some of the initial works for the GTA elections have started on the administrative side. Among them are the process of delimitation, that is the identification and realignment of constituencies and scrutiny of voters' list," said a source.

The administration, through informal channels, have learnt that the principal political parties, including the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by Binay Tamang, are ready for the elections. "We cannot rule out the possibility of holding the GTA elections before the Parliament polls," said the source.

The first and only election to the GTA was held in 2012. The Morcha, which was being helmed by Bimal Gurung then, won all 45 seats uncontested. "This time, we want to ensure maximum participation in the polls by parties and hence, proper demarcation of constituencies is an important task," the source said.

The hint at the preparations for the polls comes after a resolution adopted by the core committee of the Morcha said the party wanted the elections to be held by December. "We are ready for the GTA elections and want the same to be held by December," Tamang had said.

The Morcha wants to end the political instability in the hills as the GTA is run by a board of administrators with Tamang as the chief, and not by an elected board, since last year. "It is obvious that the Morcha wants the elections to be held fast so that it can prove its support base and run the GTA for the next five years. The polls would show which party enjoys how much support in the Darjeeling hills," said an observer.

Additional reporting by Vivek Chhetri in Darjeeling.