Trinamool set to revive political activity in Hills post long hiatus

"The Hills were passing through a very violent and difficult phase. However, with peace and stability returning to the Hills, we have been instructed by the party high command to renew political activities in the Hills," stated Shubhomoy Chatterjee, working president, TMC (Hills).

He further suggested that as political parties cannot hibernate for long and as peace and normality have returned, this decision was taken.

The TMC will be holding a general meeting at the GDNS Hall on March 22 in Darjeeling. "We will chalk out our future course of action in this meeting," stated Chatterjee.

However, the TMC has decided on a guarded approach as of now, not to disturb the newfound peace and normality of the Hills.

"We extend full cooperation to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration run by a board of administrators and the Hill Area Development Authority. In no way will we go into any confrontation with them or any other political party of the Hills," stated Chatterjee.

The no confrontation policy will be followed to such a degree, that defectors from other political parties wanting to join Trinamool Congress will be examined and then a decision will be taken on whether they will be allowed to join or not, in order to not rub the other Hill political parties the wrong way.

Such a guarded approach is being adhered to by TMC in order to maintain the fragile political balance in the Hills.

The leadership of both the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Gorkha National Liberation Front at present enjoy a cordial relation with the TMC-run state government, which has resulted in the peace and normality that the Hills are enjoying at present.

The TMC high command, including party supremo Mamata Banerjee, would under no condition want this peace to be disturbed, or the fragile political balance to be disrupted, feel political commentators.

"A revamped core committee has been formed to overlook the activities of the party in the Hills" added Chat- terjee.