The Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) started its campaign for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections from the Takdah-Glenburn constituency from Thursday.

BGPM president Anit Thapa and general secretary Amar Lama were the prominent leaders who visited the constituency about 30km from Darjeeling town and spoke extensively on the GTA polls.

Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced her intention of holding GTA polls, due since 2011, in May-June. While the BGPM and Hamro Party have no reservations if elections are held,

BJP ally Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) has said it may move court if the elections dates are announced.

Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janmukti Morcha also wants a permanent political solution for the Darjeeling region to be worked out before the GTA polls are held. Gurung recently threatened a hunger strike if GTA polls are held but since then has been lying low.

Thapa on Thursday said: “Some are in favour of GTA elections while others are opposed to it, but the GTA is an administrative body set up by the government. If we do not administer a body provided by the government what will happen tomorrow?”

The BGPM chief asked what would the hill people do until Gorkhaland or a permanent political solution was worked out. “Should we stay this way? This is why I made a suggestion to chief minister Mamata Banerjee that elections to GTA should be held,” said Thapa.

Amar Lama asserted that that the GTA elections would be held. “The elections will be held. The state and Centre have set up this administrative unit and such a set-up will not be provided at the drop of the hat. Many say that the government would provide this or that (alternative set-ups) but it will take some time to fructify,” said Lama.

Lama was of the opinion that the hill body formed in 2012 had been provided with many powers. “However, the earlier GTA Sabha could not implement the same,” said Lama, adding that if voted to power the BGPM would ensure that the body functions with all its powers.

Neeraj Zimba, secretary-general of GNLF and Darjeeling MLA who won on a BJP ticket, said his party would explore the possibility of moving court to stall GTA elections if the state government announces the dates. The GNLF had filed a case in the Calcutta High Court when the GTA was formed in 2012.

“It will be interesting to see how the parties not in favour of GTA elections will react if the polls are actually declared as most political parties are aware that true power in hill politics comes with control of bodies like the GTA,” said an observer.