MUKESH SHARMA

Kalimpong, October 10:

As per the sources the Panchayat election in the hills is likely to be conducted on the month of March next year. There are talks lately about the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Panchayat election of being 3-tier. However, many politicians and experts believe that the 3-tier election is impossible in the region.

There is no legal barrier for conducting the 3-tier election in the hills but it is not clear whether there is any political hindrance, said advocate Anmol Prasad today. “If the system is wisely used then there will be overall development in the hills”, he added. By this he meant to say that only introduction of system can do nothing, how it is used is the important part. The present situation is a ‘dynamic period’, tagged the advocate. However, he refrained from further comments saying that it is not correct to opine anything on election and GTA, as until now there has been no Constitutional Amendment in the region.

In other hand, veteran advocate cum politician, Amar Lama who is in the town at present, said that the 3-tier election cannot happen at all. But it is still not clear whether the election will be or will not be conducted, he added. He too abstained from further presumptions.

If we go by the experts, there are many chances of the 3-tier Panchayat elections to fail in the hills as it is only possible in State level. Anyhow, if it is conducted then at first, the Siliguri Sub Division Council should be dissolved. Secondly, a District should be declared taking the three Sub Divisions of Darjeeling. It looks impossible to break the Siliguri Sub Division Council for the sake of the hills, say the experts.

Yet, taking the three Darjeeling Sub Divisions and declaring them as a District, the election is conducted, then it will be another and a historic mistake, educationist, PR Pradhan had already stated before. Thus, the State Government cannot be forced for the same.

Even the Kalimpong, MLA, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri has not spoken clearly about the Panchayat election.