Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Darjeeling next week, its timing significant in view of the politics of the region precariously poised both in the hills and plains.
“The chief minister is likely to arrive in Siliguri on March 27 and move to Darjeeling on March 29 before leaving for Calcutta on March 31,” said a source.
Government events in Siliguri on March 28 and in Darjeeling on March 30 after are likely to be held. “The events for distribution of various government schemes are likely to be held at Kanchenjunga stadium in Siliguri and Chowrasta in Darjeeling,” said a source.
Mamata’s visit to Darjeeling district assumes significance as a new political party, Hamro Party, which has announced its independence from both Trinamul and the BJP, is turning into a formidable force after winning the recent Darjeeling municipality elections with 18 seats. Trinamul allies Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) won nine and three seats. Trinamul won two.
“The visit is important as despite the Trinamul and its allies having lost the hill election, Mamata expressed satisfaction on the way elections were held, appreciated the return of democracy to the hills. She said Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections, due since 2017, would be held soon,” said an observer.
However, Trinamul ally GJM has openly said it is not in favour of GTA polls until the state government finds a “permanent political solution”.
BGPM president Anit Thapa is in favour of GTA polls but his Kalimpong MLA Ruden Sada Lepcha floated the idea of keeping Kalimpong district out of GTA’s ambit.
Ajoy Edwards, the chief of Hamro Party, has said they would contest whatever election comes their way.
During Mamata’s last hill visit in October, she announced a steering committee comprising the BGPM and GJM leaders to suggest a “permanent political solution” to the state government, but no progress has been made in this regard.
“Given these complexities in hill politics, the chief minister’s visit to Darjeeling will be keenly followed,” said an observer.
Mamata’s visit is also significant for the plains of Darjeeling district. This year, Trinamul won the Siliguri civic polls for the first time and is now eyeing the Siliguri Mahukama Parishad (three-tier panchayat system for Siliguri subdivision). “It is hoping its win in the civic areas helps them sail through the SMP also,” said an observer.
The SMP has also never been won by Trinamul. The Left Front had won the 9-seat SMP in 2015.
The SMP is spread over two Assembly constituencies, Matigara-Naxalbari and Phansidewa constituencies, which had both elected BJP MLAs.
“We are confident of defeating the BJP from this region now,” said a Trinamul leader.
