DARJEELING, : Darjeeling MP and BJP Lok Sabha candidate Raju Bista has written to the Election Commission of India, demanding removal of “politically appointed officials” from key administrative posts in the hill municipalities of Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. Bista cited expiration of the elected bodies’ terms in 2022 without subsequent elections.
In a press release, Bista said, “The subversion of democracy under the TMC government in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars regions is a well-known phenomenon. For over five years, they effectively controlled the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) through proxies, without conducting elections.”
He asserted that similar tactics are being employed in the operation of the Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik municipalities, where administrators are appointed instead of elected representatives.
Bista argued that these appointed officials wield undue influence over voters, thereby compromising the integrity of the electoral process and flouting ECI regulations.
“These political appointees wield undue influence over voters, leveraging their positions to sway support towards the TMC, thus undermining the democratic process and flouting the Election Commission's regulations,” he said.
Bista’s concerns has garnered the attention of the General Election Observer for the region, who has directed the District Election and Returning Officer to take prompt action.
Bista said that the Election Observer has also instructed the DE&RO to “ensure that under no circumstances, the office and resources of these offices are used for the election campaigning or influencing the voters in any manner,” and to take strict action if any such incident was brought to their notice.