Yesterday Mamata Banarjee declared Kalimpong as a new district. This move is seen as major political plank by Mamta Banerjee targeting the 2016 elections. However this was initiated by Kalimpong MLA Dr Harkha Bhadur Chettri. Dr Chettri who after a bitter showdown with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had resigned from the party but retained his MLA post.
Kalimpong a major agricultural area was deprived of funds allocated under GTA. It will be beneficial for the people of Kalimpong district to be allotted their own funds and development plans chalked out.
Darjeeling had been bifurcated and Kalimpong is going to be the new district. Mirick will be a new sub-division now. This is done with political aim, to weaken the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s organisation.
For the Kalimpong district to fuction however will take a year. The legal formalities
for creating the offices of the DMs, SPs and sub-divisional officers would reqire time.
Bimal Gurung head of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration was the first to congratulate for the formation of a new Kalimpong District. He was heavily banking on Kalimpong for 2016 elections with his frequent visits to kalimpong during the landslide in September.
The main agenda of the Gorkhas for the formation of Gokhland seems to have take a back seat at the moment. Mamta has played her cards well with the formation of Kalimpong district. It has didvided the Gorkhas into two major camps, one of Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha and the Trimool Congress. CM Banerjee has formed different ethnic boards to win the support of the Lepchas, Thapas and Gurungs who pre-dominantly have a majority in the hills.
