Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabhasad Ajoy Edwards has levelled serious allegations against the GTA, claiming the institution is facing an administrative collapse. Edwards warned that opposition members may be compelled to resign en masse if the government fails to initiate immediate reforms to restore transparency, autonomy, and accountability.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Edwards criticised her recent representation of the GTA as a stable and functional body, calling it completely disconnected from the “ground realities” in the Hills. He asserted that the GTA is neither operational nor autonomous and compared its current state to the defunct Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which had also failed to deliver meaningful self-governance.
Edwards further highlighted that crucial provisions of the 2012 GTA Agreement—meant to ensure transparency, rule formation, and institutional autonomy—remain unimplemented even after 13 years. He alleged that this prolonged delay appears to be a deliberate attempt to keep the institution weak and politically controlled. According to him, the GTA’s operations are currently dictated by the whims of a single individual in Darjeeling and by the state government in Kolkata.
He also criticised the suspension of GTA elections since 2017, stating that the democratic process was paralysed for nearly five years. Even after elections resumed, Edwards claimed the mandatory quarterly Sabha meetings were not held regularly, with only three meetings taking place in the last three years. In addition, he alleged rampant corruption in the allocation of GTA and municipal properties, claiming that many were distributed without proper approval, records, or consultation with elected members.
Addressing the Centre’s proposal to appoint an interlocutor for the long-pending Gorkha issue, Edwards acknowledged that the move may carry political motives but emphasised that even a small window for sincere dialogue offers hope to the people of the Hills. He urged the Chief Minister to remain open to discussions and prioritise the interests of the people over political considerations.
Edwards’ party, the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), formerly known as the Hamro Party, currently holds six of the 45 seats in the GTA and serves as the main opposition force within the administration.
