GNLF to stay away from Darjeeling municipal polls

A file picture of GNLF supremo Subash Ghising. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.

GNLF will not participate in the municipal elections in the Darjeeling hill sub-division next month, its president Subash Ghising said on Sunday.

Municipal elections are scheduled to be held in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Mirik and Kalimpong on December 11.

When asked, he said the GNLF considered the election is illegal as the state government had adopted an unanimous proposal by the then DGHC under him that a development council under the sixth schedule of constitution be set up for the region.

The suggestion had also been placed before the Centre but it had not the bill in Parliament.

“Only the bill will be considered by GNLF. Anything else will be illegal,” Mr. Ghising said.

“We are well wishers of the new government under Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. But we cannot cannot digest this kind of poisonous decision to hold municipal elections and other agreements which are 100 per cent harmful to the political fate of 22 major hill tribes in Darjeeling,” he added.