GTA chief executive Bimal Gurung today
said he believes the rift created between the GJM and TMC during the
general elections will have no adverse effect on the GTA-state
government relationship. Speaking to journalists here, Gurung downplayed
the possibility about the GJM’s decision to support the BJP disrupting
ties with the TMC government, saying the latter should not take the
matter “seriously”.
“This election was meant to elect 543
MPs from across the country to form the central government. Had it been
the GTA or state Assembly elections, it would have been necessary to
speak with the state government,” he said.
In his bid to restore the GJM-TMC
bonhomie, Gurung said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should not be irked
by the Morcha’s decision to back the BJP. He added if his party’s
decision has really affected GTA-state government relation, it would be
better for Banerjee to “quit politics”.
A confident Gurung also said only 20-25
per cent of votes from the Darjeeling constituency has gone to other
parties, while the remaining has dropped into the BJP’s bag. He further
said the votes that have gone to rival parties are of those who are
against statehood. The GJM chief also derided GNLF chief Subash Ghisingh
for “utterly failing to comprehend the political situation in the
hills”. While surprising the public with his decision to support the
TMC, Ghisingh himself did not exercise his franchise. Even if the TMC,
GNLF and DDUDF emerge as worthy opponents, the GJM will not give any
weight to them, said Gurung dismissively. He said the GJM had swept the
three hill sub-divisions in the last assembly elections and his party is
least bothered by the so-called comeback of the GNLF.
The GJM chief also said the party will
ensure panchayat elections are held in the Darjeeling hills after the
election results are announced. Despite legal snags on whether the
election is to be two-tiered or three-tiered, the GJM is in favour of
holding panchayat elections as they have not been held for quite a while
in the hills, he said. The party leadership is slated to discuss the
issue during a meeting this Sunday.
Responding to a query, Gurung said the
GTA has become an object that the GJM can neither happily settle with
nor deny outright. Admitting the setup is not functioning in its full
capacity, he asserted only a separate state of Gorkhaland can solve the
myriad issues plaguing the Gorkhas.(EOIC)