GTA board dissolved, administration handed over to principal secretary

DARJEELING,: West Bengal government has dissolved the Anit Thapa-led Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Board of Administrators and has handed over the administration of GTA to principal secretary Surendra Gupta till the Model Code of Conduct is in place.
Even as the notification was issued today by the Bengal Home & Hills Affairs department, Thapa, in the morning, had claimed that he had written to the State government seeking his removal from the post for a free and fair election.
A notification issued by the Home & Hill Affairs department states: "The Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed, in order to avoid a situation where critical functions of Urban Local Bodies are actually discharged and thereby affecting level playing field during the operation of Model Code of Conduct or had potential of and/or may give rise to legitimate apprehension in mind of Voters about the fairness and impartiality of the Election process. To temporarily restrain such political appointees, who are holding the office of Administrator/ Head of Board of Administrators in the Municipal Corporations of West Bengal on appointment basis after the end of their elected term, from participating in/exercising the function of the Board during the period the Model Code of Conduct is in force and to ensure a level playing field in all other Municipal Bodies in the State of West Bengal by rigorous reviews the decisions which can disturb the level playing field."
The notification adds that the ECI has received complaints on the disharmony in GTA between political nominees in Board of Administrators and the principles of level playing field.
"In terms of the relevant provision of Section 17(1) read with Section 64 and 65 of the GTA Act, 2011, read with the executive power of the State conferred by the Constitution of India, the State Government is pleased hereby to appoint Surendra Gupta, Principal Secretary as Administrator to GTA with immediate effect till the Model Code of Conduct remains in operation or until further orders whichever is earlier for exercising or performing," the notification added.
After the earlier GTA chairman Bimal Gurung along with Sabashads resigned from the GTA in the year 2017, the State government formed a board of administrators headed by Binay Tamang to run the GTA. With Tamang contesting the Darjeeling Assembly by-election in 2019, the GTA chairmanship was given to Anit Thapa. No election has been held for it till now with the State government extending its term every six months.
On the other hand, Thapa in the morning, stated, "There was a lot of noise about the ECI removing me from the GTA for the election period from last week but till date the GTA hasn’t received such order but I feel, for a free and fair elections I should step down as GTA chairman till the elections are over.
 “I know we are going to win all three seats in Darjeeling hills and there should be no criticism later on that I used my position to influence the voters."
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxist, who had announced its candidates from the three hill constituencies, today said that they will be supporting the BJP candidates instead.
The decision, the CPRM maintained, was taken to ensure TMC’s loss. They added the BJP, when it comes to power in Bengal, should work on the demand of Gorkhaland among other things.