GJM does not rule out participating in hill council polls

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today did not rule out participating in the election to the Gorkha Territorial Administration, the proposed new hill council in Darjeeling, and said that a final decision would be taken on June 30 by the party.

"Our core committee will meet day after tomorrow in Darjeeling. Whatever decision will be taken there," GJM president Bimal Gurung who led a party delegation for talks with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told newsmen.

The West Bengal government has notified the elections to be held on July 29. 

Stating that the Trinamool Congress, Congress and the All-India Gorkha League were free to contest the GTA election, Gurung said "We will not tie up with any party. If we take part in the GTA election we will win all the 45 seats."

Told that Trinamool Congress would participate in a big way in the GTA polls, Gurung said during the last assembly election, the GJM had helped the party to win in the plains in Dooars and Silguri.

"We should have some relationship," he said.

Gurung said that the discussion with the chief minister was heated at times. "Though it was a good discussion, it was heated at times."

Asked to elaborate, he said that Trinamool Congress' plan to participate in the GTA polls was one of the causes.

"Moreover, the issue of inclusion of areas in Dooars and

Terai in the GTA is being discussed between the state government and the GJM for long time. There was bound to be heated discussion because of that also," he said.

The GJM is unhappy that a state appointed high power committee has recommended only five areas to be included in the plains in the jurisdiction of the GTA, when it has demanded inclusion of 396, which it claims are Gorkha dominated. 

Press Trust of India / Kolkata June 28, 2012