West Bengal chief minister Mamata banerjee to visit Darjeeling on july 16 and stay for a couple of days. This will
be her first climb uphill after her party’s defeat in Darjeeling in the
general election at the hands of the BJP-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha combine.
Senior hill TMC leader Binny Sharma
today confirmed of Banerjee’s visit. “The chief minister will be in
Darjeeling for two days on July 16 and 17. She will hold meetings with
district administration officials and other local bodies during her stay
here,” he said.
When asked whether there was a specific
reason for the chief minister’s visit, Sharma said, “As chief minister,
she can come and go wherever and whenever she wants. One must remember
she has visited the hills on more than 20 occasions and people here look
forward for her visits.”
Much water has flowed in the Teesta
since her last visit to the hills on April 13 when she had campaign for
party candidate Bhaichung Bhutia.
The district administration, meanwhile, did not seem too eager to elaborate on the chief minister’s two-day itinerary.
“I did receive a call over phone from
Kolkata saying the chief minister will visit the hills on July 16.
However, I am yet to receive an official communication of her
itinerary,” claimed Darjeeling district magistrate Puneet Yadav.
According to hill TMC sources, Banerjee
will meet members of the Aastha Hawkers’ Association and representatives
of the Tamang community. “Her full itinerary has not been confirmed as
yet, but we have come to know the chief minister will meet various local
organisations. In all likelihood, she may also officially announce the
formation of the Tamang Culture Development Board and inaugurate tourism
projects,” said the sources, adding the chief minister may also
inaugurate the Balason drinking water project that has remained stalled
for several years.
The hawkers’ market complex, proposed to come up at Chowrastha and for which the foundation stone was laid by the Banerjee on January 23, has met with opposition from town residents
and the Darjeeling municipality. As for the Balason water project, work
is nearing completion with the laying of pipes in some areas in
progress.
Meantime, GJM leaders refused to comment on the chief minister’s visit.
“We have not received any official
communication and are not aware of her visit,” said GJM assistant
general secretary Binay Tamang.
The chief minister will head back to Kolkata on July 18 after a short halt in Sukna to meet party leaders.(EOIC)