West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) would be conducted in next two three months. Ms. Banerjee, who is visiting north Bengal, met representatives of all the hill parties. She said that almost all parties have agreed for holding polls. “They said they will fully cooperate with us,” she stated.
GTA, a regional autonomous body, was formed as a result of a tripartite agreement between the Centre, the State and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in 2011. Following the 100-day shutdown and violent agitation in the hills from June to September 2017, the GTA has been lying defunct, with the State government appointing administrators. It is expected that elections to the GTA would bring political stability with the election of public representatives.
