Government will hold GTA elections, says Mamata

Election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration would be held prior to formation of its board, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said.

Making a statement in the state assembly, she pointed out that the delimitation notification had already been issued.

The chief minister admitted that Justice (retired) Shyamal Sen had submitted a report to the government which was not liked by some.

But in a democracy some may like it or some may not, she said. She said after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha expressed its disappointment over the report, the government decided to form a three-member verification panel headed by an IAS officer which would submit its report. Taking a dig at the Opposition, which staged a walk-out at the start of the session alleging that their questions were relegated to the back, Banerjee said she was never afraid of replying to any question inside the House.

She reminded that she had held the railway minister’s portfolio for two times and that she had never been afraid of answering any question in Parliament. Banerjee criticised the Opposition for not being present in the House when she was making a statement.