Citizen's Forum plans referendum to stop GTA election, CPI(M) attends meet

EOI CORRESPONDENT | DARJEELING | MAY 27/2022 : With the formal announcement of the date of election for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration on Friday, the Citizen's Forum, comprising former political leaders, intellectuals and social organizations of the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, has decided to hold a public referendum to put pressure on the West Bengal Government not to hold the election.

On Friday, members of the Forum assembled a meeting in Darjeeling with political parties opposed to the GTA. Representatives from the Gorkha National Liberation Front, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha who are against the GTA election on June 26 were present in the meeting, together with those of the CPI(M) and the BJP.

Speaking on behalf of those present in the meeting, former Sikkim University vice-chancellor and former member of National Security Advisory Board Mahendra P Lama said: "We discussed about the GTA and its election being imposed by the State Government. Among the many suggestions we got from members was to build a referendum and create pressure on the Bengal government to revoke its decision to hold the GTA polls against public interest".

Lama said it was imperative to evoke public sentiment against the redundant council body which had also been opposed by major political parties of the hills. "If 95 percent of the hill population say they want to cast their vote, then will the rest five percent matter/ A referendum will put the State Government in a dilemma and spot of bother which should be our objective to get it to rethink its decision, "said the academic. 

When reminded that the poll date had already been announced, Lama said: "That is true. But the possibility of the State Government withdrawing its decision is there as some political parties are mulling taking legal course while others are  negotiating and are on hunger strike." 

The former NSAB member said not only the people but also the political parties were disenchanted with the GTA. "Everyone has now become aware that the GTA will not fulfil their aspirations and that it was only an obstacle in the way of the separate statehood demand. Even the Chief Minister of West Bengal has said she will provide us a permanent political solution. This implies that even the CM does not have faith in the GTA," said Lama. The Forum will huddle for another round of meeting with the different political parties to take forward Friday's proposals.