Mamata's ploy at work behind Gurung's elevation?

Third and perhaps most importantly, Gurung must keep in mind that the actual reasons that can precipitate a political crisis around the question of Gorkhaland are related to the economy. One of the main reasons for which Ghising had failed despite having a good support base was the economic mismanagement. Opponents accused his supporters of siphoning off money meant for social welfare. Gurung will have the biggest challenge in ensuring a comprehensive economic development for the region.

He will have to accommodate the Gorkhaland Personnel, who provided a big support to the Gorkhaland agitation. He has promised them jobs in the security force and will have to deliver on it. Here, he can draw a lesson from Ghisingh again. The GNLF leader had enraged the ex-servicemen of the region after failing to fulfil their expectations and they turned out a serious opposition to him.

To ensure economic development, Gurung has to resolve problems related to infrastructure. His party, so far, has done little towards resolving power and water problems in the hills. For the common man, the names GNLF and GJM will not make much of a difference if he continues to spend days in utter crisis. A trust deficit can also be seen among the local people and they wonder if the new system will be better in terms of transparency when comapred to the Ghishing days. Tourism, the mainstay of the hills' economy, has been in ruins and the GJM is blamed for causing the maximum damage. The outfit's frequent strikes seriously crippled the region and caused the commoners, particularly those dependent on tourism, suffer huge losses. It is difficult for Gurung to regain the trust.

Calculated move by Mamata

From the state government's perspective, it is a well-calculated move by Mamata Banerjee. It is a chance for her to fathom the popular support in the hills both for short-term and long-term gains.

In terms of short-term gain, she knows very well that Gurung's support base has been dented and by allowing him a free play, she can improve her goodwill image before the people of the hills, particularly with the panchayat elections not far away. N Bengal is a region where the Trinamool is yet to find a stronghold.

In the long term, sticking with Gurung will help Mamata just as Ghising had proved for the former Left regime. Even if Gurung fails, Mamata will have little responsibility for the consequent chaos.

Mamata formally declared her intention to withdraw the candidates during her July 21 rally in Kolkata in front of GJM representatives after some party insiders felt that having a backdoor arrangement on this would have marred the CM's efforts in implementing the GTA. For the entire process had already been delayed owing to several reasons and Mamata knew very well that any further delay could lead to renewed tension in the hills.

The situation became all the more favourable for Mamata after P Chidambaram was shifted to the Finance Ministry and was replaced by Sushilkumar Shinde. The CM wasted no time in taking the new Home Minister in confidence while going forward with the GTA issue. This is important for both Shinde and Mamata for if Gurung struggles to keep things under his control and which is a high possibility, the two leaders will work in tandem to deal with problems in the hills.

What democracy in the hills will the farce election bring?

But has Mamata given free space to unreliable elements in a quest to gain political mileage for herself? Such possibility can not be ruled out. It seems she has not taken into account the complex socio-economic realities of the region and trusted an ill-reputed GJM to take the lead for all people. What about the representation of the other people who are not in favour of the GJM? Why didn't the election feature other groups?

The Darjeeling region is geographically-sensitive and any flare-up is set to give rise to new headaches to New Delhi and Kolkata. By allowing a farce election in the hills, the state government has ensured that there will be little political solution as far as the Gorkhaland problem is concerned.