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| GJM’s rousing welcome to Mamata in Darjeeling | | | Agencies
Darjeeling, Sept 26: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was today given a rousing welcome by supporters of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha as she arrived on a two-day visit here for hearing “problems” of the Hills.
Her convoy, which started from New Jalpaiguri railway station amid tight security, was greeted by hundreds of GJM supporters lined along Hill Cart Road leading to Darjeeling.
Cut-outs and welcome banners were prominently displayed all along the route.
Ms. Banerjee, who had on various occasions expressed her reservations against division of Bengal, is scheduled to announce a few railway projects and meet representatives of civil society.
The visit is significant in the light of GJM’s sustained agitation for a separate State to be carved out of West Bengal and support from the Hills is crucial to decide the fate of her candidates in three constituencies in the coming Assembly elections.
North Bengal, a Marxist citadel till the other day, has of late developed chinks in the armour and Ms. Banerjee is determined to utilise it to strengthen her chances to come to power in the State.
Recently in the civic elections, the Congress-Trinamool Congress combine had ousted the Left Front from the Siliguri municipal board.
In a by-election at Kalchini in the Dooars, the combine had defeated the Left Front candidate.
Ms. Mamata Banerjee said that she had come to the Hills not as the Centre’s representative, but to see the ground situation. “I love the Darjeeling Hills and its people. I want to hear their problems from their own mouths.”
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