Anit Thapa to meet Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta on Wednesday

Meeting is crucial as BGPM and Trinamul have fought GTA polls as an 'unannounced' alliance

Thapa at Bagdogra airport on Tuesday.: Passang Yolmo

Vivek Chhetri   |   TT  |  Darjeeling   |   06.07.22  : Anit Thapa, whose Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) won the recent Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha elections, left for Calcutta on Tuesday for a meeting with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“I have a meeting with the chief minister at Nabanna tomorrow (Wednesday). She called me and this is why I am going to Nabanna,” Thapa said.

The Wednesday meeting is crucial as Thapa’s BGPM and Mamata’s Trinamul have fought the GTA polls as an “unannounced” alliance.

The BGPM “officially” fielded candidates in only 35 seats. Trinamul announced “official candidates” in 11 seats. The GTA has 45 constituencies. Apart from one constituency, the two parties did not field “official” candidates against each other.

Since Thapa has not yet announced his GTA team, political observers believe that it could be firmed up after the meeting with Mamata.

Thapa’s BGPM has won 27 seats but with three Independents from Kalimpong joining his party on Tuesday, the party’s strength stands at 30.

Trinamul, which came up with its best electoral performance in the hills, won 5 seats.

“It needs to be seen whether Trinamul leaders will be accommodated in Thapa’s team,” said an observer.

The GTA will be headed by a chief executive who has to appoint a deputy chief executive. The GTA Sabha will also have a chairman and deputy chairman.

While Thapa is set to be the chief executive, the names of deputy chief executive, chairman and deputy chairman have not yet been disclosed.

Another likely issue is fixing a date for the oath-taking ceremony. The governor has to administer the oath of office to the chief executive.

Thapa on Tuesday again said he would work with the state government.

“I have always said that I will work with the government. The system has to be placed in the hills. There are issues like (setting up) School Service Commission and regularising GTA employees,” said Thapa.

Courtesy & source