Hamro Party releases 'draft' poll manifesto: Election paper mentions unimplemented GTA pact points

REZA PRADHAN, SNS, DARJEELING, 9 JUNE 2022 : Newly-formed Hamro Party led by Ajoy Edwards released a 25-point draft of the party's manifesto for the ensuing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections. As the party released the same on social media, it also appealed to people to come up with views and suggestions for the final copy of the manifesto that it plans to release later.

Certain points in the "draft manifesto" are issues that are mentioned in the GTA Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), but are not implemented in the semi-autonomous body yet. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has also demanded implementation of the MoA in full before GTA polls were held out"   

According to the party, " draft manifesto" was an "evolving one" and that the public were free to put in their suggestions. When contacted, Hamro Party central committee leader Dipu Thapa said, "The final manifesto will be released within a few days and this is only a draft. We want to take the opinion of the people on the points that are there, which we will also consider, before the final one is taken out.

The GTA MoA issues that the party mentions include revival of the panchayat system in the Hills, transfer of departments as agreed in the GTA Act, establishment of the School Service Commission and the College Service Commission, along with formation of a Subordinate Service Selection Board. The Morcha had also recently featured these points among others, in their "Memorandum of Proposal" submitted to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. They had demanded "whole-hearted implementation" of the GTA MoA before the GTA polls were held. The state government, however, seems not interested in the same and declared the GTA elections. The GJMM youth wing, along with their party chief Bimal Gurung, had also staged a hunger strike in support of their demand, but to no avail.

Other points mentioned in the Hamro Party "draft manifesto" includes CAG AUDIT on all GTA accounts from 2012-2022, working towards amending the GTA Act to transfer legislative power to the body, delimitation of GTA areas to increase the number of seats from 45 to 55 constituencies, along with reviving, strengthening and upgrading the GTA Secretariats in all the sub- divisions. Their document further mentions transfer of the tea auction board to Darjeeling, regional pension and provident fund directorate, free coaching centres for all competitive exams, including scholarship for higher civil services exams, infrastructure improvement and upgradation of all government schools and colleges, and establishment of Polytechnic Institutes in all Sub-divisions.

Other issues mentioned are establishment of the Regional Art and Culture Academy, Super Specialty Hospital, Film and Music Institute, Sports Academy, along with Sports Training Centre in all the 45 Constituencies.