GTA chief rues lack of knowledge in youngsters on rural election

SNS, SILIGURI, 6 JULY 2023 : Chief Executive of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), Anit Thapa, who is also President of his party Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), today said new generation of the Hills was not aware of Panchayat Polls and how Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti function to bring in development from grassroots.

The GTA Chief Mr Thapa was addressing in a tea garden at the last hour of rural poll campaigning.

"I have covered almost all areas in Darjeeling and Kalimpong and campaigned for my party candidates. During my visit I have come to know that the new generation as well as voters do not have any ideas about Panchayat polls and its systems. How a Gram Panchayat Pradhan can function in the interest of people and bring in development. Even they do not know how the people in rural belt get benefits government's sponsored schemes from a rural civic body," Mr Thapa said.

As a result, this election campaign was also a part of awareness campaigning among new generation in the Hills', he added.

The BGPM president Mr Thapa also explained the reason behind a lack of knowledge among the new generation about two tier rural polls in the Hills.

"Since no Panchayat election was held in the Hills in last two decades," he pointed out.

It may be noted that the last two tier Panchayat election was held during the tenure of Subash Ghishing.

But Ghishing, the then chief of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was against the rural polls to put pressure on the governments, demanding the Sixth Schedule status of Indian Constitution for the DGHC.

The BGPM president Anit Thapa, during election campaign, urged the voters not to vote for Independent candidates and requested them to vote for those candidates, who are associated with an organisation, which is in power to bringing development.

Mr Thapa former leader of Gurkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), does not hesitate to clear his present stand and reasons behind his decision to support Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

"We fought for Gorkhaland since many days. When there is no possibility to reach out to our ultimate goal, just to bring in development for Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills, we are working with the state government maintaining peace in the Hills in the interests of the people since the region is internationally famous for tea and tourism," GTA Chief Mr Thapa said.