With the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) deciding to contest elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday welcomed the move saying it would usher in peace in the region. Elections to the GTA will be held on July 29 .

GTA is an autonomous hill council set up to look into the administration in the hilly regions of the Darjeeling district in the State. “Today is a very happy day for all of us as my brothers and sisters of Darjeeling have decided to participate in the democratic process of elections next month,” Ms Banerjee said in her latest post on Facebook. The post was updated late Saturday night. “Truly Darjeeling is now smiling. Peace, development and Prosperity will bring new era in Darjeeling. On this happy occasion I congratulate all my brothers and sisters of Darjeeling,” she wrote.

A major political force

The GJM, a major political force in Darjeeling, on Saturday decided to contest all 45 seats of the GTA. It had earlier threatened to boycott elections as it was unhappy that its demand for the inclusion of Gorkha-dominated areas in the plains of the Dooars and Terai regions was not met. Unlike the Assembly elections of 2011, there will be no alliance with the Trinamool Congress for the elections. GJM will contest on its own.

Altogether nine parties, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress, have so far decided to contest the polls.

While the GJM President, Mr Bimal Gurung, is yet to decide on his candidature, political observers say the party’s decision to enter into the electoral fray and democratic process is a step towards establishing peace in the region.

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