Chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached Darjeeling town on Monday evening after a gap of more than two years.

Mamata had last visited Darjeeling in July 2022 for the swearing-in of Anit Thapa as the chief executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

She was in Kurseong in December last year to attend a family function.

"I am visiting Darjeeling after a while," said Mamata on reaching the Queen of the Hills.

In the past two years, the chief minister twice cancelled her visit to Darjeeling at the last moment.

"Apart from those two visits, she was to reach Darjeeling to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections early this year but Anit Thapa took the responsibility to campaign for the TMC candidate," said a source.

Thapa's Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) fielded former WBCS officer Gopal Lama on a TMC ticket.

However, in the hills, Lama was projected as a BGPM candidate. As part of the election strategy, TMC campaign material was not used in the hills.

Nevertheless, BJP candidate Raju Bista defeated Lama comfortably in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha segment.

"Despite the loss in the Lok Sabha polls, Trinamool is in a comfortable position in the hills with her ally Anit Thapa at the moment," said a source.

The BGPM is in control of the GTA, panchayats and municipalities in the hills.

There are, however, rumblings of a new Opposition camp taking shape in the hills.

Elections to the municipalities of Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik are scheduled to be held soon.

"Unlike in 2017 when Mamata Banerjee had made a serious bid for the Mirik civic elections and won the polls, the TMC leadership is likely to go along with the BGPM next time," said an observer.

On Wednesday, the chief minister will hold a meeting with members of the GTA and 16 development boards.

"There are issues like transfer of departments, land rights to tea garden workers and release of funds to the GTA that members of the hill body are likely to take up for discussion," said a source.

On Thursday, Mamata will inaugurate the Saras (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) Mela at Chowrasta, the most popular promenade in Darjeeling.

“Artisans in the hills and the plains have been invited to participate in the fair. They will exhibit handicrafts and several other items at the event,” said a source in the administration.

The fair will be held till November 24.