Dynamics in political friendship puts Darjeeling under deep uncertainty

SILIGURI: Darjeeling hills and adjoining foothills in West Bengal are getting under deep political uncertainty before rural body (Panchayet) election in the state.

The uncertainty is brewing up due to rapidly changing friendship dynamics between political or ethnic bodies and ruling party of the state Trinamool Congress(TMC).

At the vortex of brewing up uncertainty, there lies the shattered friendship between TMC and Gorkha Janamukti Morcha(GJM), the party spearheading demand for separate statehood for Darjeeling and at present ruling Darjeeling's just formed administrative body Gorkhaland Territorial Administration( GTA).

Even before GTA could start working in the hills, GJM has come out with its salvo against state government. "We are going for a bandh in hills on the 9 th" said" Mr. Roshan Giri, GJM General Secretary.

Following aggressive movement of GJM since last 2007 with Gorkhaland demand, TMC developed a friendship with the party in 2010. TMC gained heavily with that in 2011 state assembly election while coming to state power removing lefts.

In return, TMC supremo facilitated formation of separate administrative body GTA and helped GJM to gain 100% seats in it's election. TMC projected the whole episode as its success in handling separate statehood demand in Darjeeling. "This is the end of Gorkhaland crisis," said Miss Mamata Banerjee.

But, "We never left our demand for Gorkhaland. Now we are determined to re-launch our movement for that," said Mr. Bimal Gurung, GJM President at Darjeeling recently while his party colleagues are lobbying in Delhi to gain support for Gorkhaland demand.

But what initiated the rift between the two friends?

It may be noted that following GJM's demand for near 200 moujas of Darjeeling hills adjoining foothills under GTA, state Government formed a high power committee that finally recommended for allowing only five moujas. But interestingly, despite many initial roars, GJM remained confined within subtle voices only while protesting that.

"It was a tactical game. Allowing mouzas of foothills, dominated by tribals, to go under GTA was not to be supported by tribals or entire plains of the state," said Mr. Birsa Tirkey, West Bengal state President of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP). "So, TMC projected a tactical path to GJM to ensure power for it in foothills through the panchayet election. For that, TMC initiated friendship between GJM and tribal groups lead by John Barla and Sukra Munda. That prompted us to expel John and Sukra from ABAVP," he added.

As a matter of fact, there were many un scheduled, emergent and closed door meetings between TMC top leaders including Miss Mamata Banerjee and GJM leaders . Developments of those never came open.

But, " GJM must have realized that TMCs 'tactical path' was actually intended towards own gain in foothills in panchayet election and thus decide to split friendship with TMC as well as the tribal groups," said Mr. Tirkey.

Interestingly, despite ignoring appeal from the tribal groups for a talk many times, Miss Banerjee called Mr. John at her head quarter two days back and had a meet. "May be, the beginning of a new friendship, but with unknown objective," said Mr. Asok Bhattacharya, ex West Bengal minister.

While talking on the hills issues, trusted lieutenant of Miss Mamata Bannerjee, especially in hills and foothills issues, Mr. Gautam Dev, a Minister of west Bengal just said, "TMC and our CM have done everything for the true development of hills through peaceful manner. We want GJM to maintain peace there."

However, "Instead of going through all these complicated pavements and complicated dynamics in friendships to gain politically, straight path of ensuring development fund and employment generation schemes for hills side by side strict monitoring of all these could develop high supportbase for TMC as well as ensure peace for hills," said Mr. Ajay Maitra, a noted political observer.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/