As expected, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) won all the 45 seats in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and is all set to form the new hill council.
“We have proved the faith that the people have in us. We will prioritise the development of health, education and tourism,” said General Secretary of GJM Roshan Giri, adding that the demand for a separate Gorkhaland still remained.
The polling, which was held on July 29, was a mere formality with the hill party already receiving uncontested majority in 28 seats. With the CPM, Congress and the TMC refraining from participating in the elections, it was only a matter of time before the GJM’s victory was announced.
The tripartite agreement between the GJM, state government and the Centre had been signed on July 18 last year for the setting up of a new council in place of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC).
The swearing-in ceremony will take place on August 4 and will be attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Governor M K Narayanan. Didi, who had earlier invited P Chidambaram to attend the oath-taking ceremony, has sent an invitation to new Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.