The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha made a clean sweep of all 45 seats in the newly-formed Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Twenty-eight seats were won uncontested by the GJM after the two major political forces - the Trinamool Congress and the CPI-M - withdrew from the contest.
Voting took place on July 29 for the remaining 17 seats and counting was taken up on Thursday. The swearing-in of the newly elected members will take place on August four.
Newly-appointed Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde is likely to attend the swearing-in. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had sent an invitation in this regard to him yesterday. Expressing happiness at the result, GJM leader Harka Bahadur Chetri said, "We knew we will win. The outcome also proved that there was no other party except us in the hills".
"The election result also proved that those who gave statements against us did not do anything for the people. We have to perform the job of Opposition. We have to analyse our own work." He said that education and health would be their immediate priority.
"We have to set up new schools and appoint teachers. The condition of health infrastructure in the hills was very bad. We have to improve it," he said.
He said roads have to be developed and new spots have to be found to attract tourists in the hills. "We had discussion with the chief minister in this regard. We need help and full cooperation of the state government."
Speaking about the five members to be nominated by the Governor in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, Chhetri said in Kolkata that three members selected by the state government were Tiku Khati, Durga Khorel and Satish Kumar Singh. The other two members were Sabitri Roy and Birku Bhusal, Chhetri said. Stating that GJM president Bimal Gurung would head the GTA, Chhetri said that the 14 executive members would be declared tomorrow after a meeting of all elected members.