The new situation has thrown up new possibilities. GJM president Bimal Gurung himself is coming to Kolkata to meet the chief minister on Monday.
While Mamata has announced steps to speed up development in the Hills to create a conducive atmosphere for talks, the GJM leadership that gave unconditional support to the Trinamool Congress candidates in the foothills and the Dooars may ask for reorganisation of the autonomous hill council in terms of its geographical area, and also the financial and legislative powers.
A discussion on these lines may scale down the Gorkhaland movement for the time being, though GJM leaders have unequivocally expressed their demand for Gorkhaland.
Mamata may offer them a Cabinet berth, though many among the Trinamool Congress are not sure how far such a strategy would work out when the GJM has not severed ties with the BJP. They are more insistent on giving greater autonomy to the hill council to honour the sentiments of the Hill people.
Such an agenda came up for discussion in the last tripartite meeting attended by the GJM, the state government and the Centre on January 25. But the GJM having the least faith on the Left Front government did not take that route. Now, with the Left Front out of power, the situation is conducive for renewing talks.
The GJM, supporting the Mamata Banerjee government from outside, has four MLAs. All four, along with GJM general secretary Roshan Giri were present when Mamata was sworn in as the chief minister on May 20. A nine-member GJM delegation had arrived here last Thursday when their party MLAs were sworn in and later met the chief minister at Writers'. And now, GJM president Gurung is all set to meet Mamata.
Whatever the strategy, there is enough indication that such talks with the GJM would continue. GJM leaders, too, are not very keen on getting a Cabinet berth.
GJM spokesman and Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chettri told TOI on Saturday, "We are open to any offer, much as we are sceptical about the consequences. Of course, Mamata is different — she is a motherly kind of a lady. We are confident that she will be more sensitive to our problems than the Left Front government was. The last government was indecisive and dragged the talks."
Chettri, who defeated Prakash Dahal of the GNLF by 1,01,675 votes in the 2011 assembly elections, however, hastened to add: "But there will be no compromise on the issue of a separate state. Our president (Bimal Gurung) would take the final call."
Gurung will reach Kolkata on Sunday afternoon to attend the meeting at Writers' on Monday. Mamata had sent out positive vibes when the GJM leaders met her at the state secretariat on Thursday. She had talked about solving the Darjeeling crisis, but stressed on development in the same breath.
"She has announced an increase in the budgetary allotment (Rs 200 crore from Rs 60 crore) for North Bengal. Mamataji is trying, but we can tell from experience that all funds stop at Siliguri and nothing reaches the Dooars and Darjeeling. Still, we are counting much on the new CM," added Chettri.
--TOI
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