GJM expresses satisfaction after Mamata meet, says elections in July

Kolkata, March 24 (IANS) The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday to discuss several key issues, expressed satisfaction over the talks and said the elections for the autonomous body will take place in July.

"I am happy with today's (Saturday) meeting with the chief minister. The election for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) will take place in July this year," GJM leader Roshan Giri told the media after the meeting at the Writers' Buildings.

He also said they will urge the Justice Shyamal Sen committee which has been set up by state government to ascertain the jurisdiction of GTA to expedite the submission of its report on the issue of inclusion of Dooars and Terai areas.

"We will urge the committee to submit the report by first week of June subsequent to which the elections will be held in July," Giri said.

Giri also ruled out an unfavourable report from the committee.

"That cannot be... that cannot happen. We are present in Terai and Dooars and we have proved our majority. (GJM's) Wilson Champamari has been able to win the assembly seat from Kalchini which signifies our majority and presence," said Giri adding that the GJM will abide by any report given by the committee.

He also said the members from the new areas of Terai and Dooars that would be added to the GTA would be nominated by the government.

"After the new areas of Terai and Dooars are included in the GTA, the government will nominate the members from the area. While 45 members of the administration will be elected, five others will be nominated by the government," said the GJM leader.

The GJM has demanded 398 mouzas (area less than a sub-division), including 196 from Dooars, 199 in Terai and three in Rajganj to be included in the GTA, the new hill council that will run the administration in Darjeeling.

The GJM leadership had earlier publicly criticised Banerjee over the issue of inclusion of Terai and Dooars in the GTA and questioned her intentions behind signing of the tripartite agreement.

Morcha president Bimal Gurung had also threatened to go for widespread movement across the Darjeeling hills from March 27 to force the state government to accept their demand.