News Analysis India

Tag: Trinamool

  • Goa polls: Congress assures state’s economic revival as it hits out at Trinamool, AAP

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said if her party comes to power in Goa after the upcoming elections, Rs 500 crore from the government fund would be allocated for employment generation and there would be 30 per cent reservation for women in government jobs.

    Addressing a public meeting in Nuvem Assembly constituency of Goa ahead of the state polls scheduled on February 14, Gandhi also said that a staff selection commission would be formed to get rid of “scams” in government jobs allocation.

    Referring to the Congress’ manifesto released on Sunday for the Goa polls, Gandhi assured 30 per cent reservation for women in the state government jobs.

    She also said Rs 500 crore from the government fund would be allocated for the creation of jobs.

    Under the Nyay scheme, families from weaker sections will be given Rs 6,000 per month which will help them sustain and also inject money into the economy, she said.

    The Congress has assured to build hostels for working women in Margao and Panaji and increase the number of police stations supervised by women.

    The party has also announced that the prices of petrol and diesel would not be allowed to rise above Rs 80 per litre, and the party government will subsidise the remaining amount.

    Notably, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party in the 40-member Goa Assembly after the 2017 state polls, but the BJP then forged an alliance with some regional outfits and independents to form government.

    Referring to the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Priyanka Gandhi reiterated that the Congress would give 40 per cent of its tickets to women in UP.

    “You know that I have been working very hard to bring women into the political process. In Uttar Pradesh, we have said that 40 per cent of the women will fight the elections. There are two-three reasons were are doing this. Women comprise 50 per cent of the population, so it is their right to have 50 per cent representation,” she said.

    Gandhi said this is not something being done as a favour (giving representation to women).

    “It is our right. We have to fight for our right,” she said.

    “More than that, I feel politics today is filled with hatred, anger. You hear speeches, 90 per cent of them are negative. There is no positivity in it. I firmly believe that we women being practical people, we can bring positivity and compassion in politics as well. Women should be helped to stand on their feet,” she said.

    A week before Goa goes to polls and multi-cornered contests shaping up, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday termed the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the parties of defectors.

    He also said that both these parties lacked a winning potential but they are dividing non-BJP votes.

    Addressing a public meeting at the Nuvem assembly constituency, he said that voters should not waste their votes by supporting the AAP or the TMC rather they should choose the NOTA (None of The Above) option.

    “These parties have suddenly descended on in Goa. They have no roots. Is there any grassroots worker that has risen from the ranks of the AAP and TMC?” he questioned.

    Later, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also attended the public meeting in Nuvem in south Goa.

    “Both AAP and TMC are parties of defectors. They have allowed the entry of defectors from other parties and fielded them as candidates,” he said.

    The TMC and the AAP cannot win a sufficient number of seats to form a government in Goa, he said.

    “What are they doing here? The plain and blunt truth is that they are dividing non-BJP votes. They are cutting into non-BJP votes,” he added.

    The TMC, led by Mamata Banerjee, had earlier proposed an alliance of Congress and other parties to take on the ruling BJP in Goa polls.

    Last month, Chidambaram had said that the TMC’s proposal for alliance in Goa was not considered as it poached Congress leaders.

    Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has also been trying to make inroads in Goa.

    Chidambaram on Monday also took a swipe at the TMC which had announced that a Rs 20 lakh loan will be provided sans collateral at a four per cent interest rate if it comes to power in Goa.

    “I challenge any TMC leader to show me one banker who will land you money without collateral and at four per cent interest amount,” the former Union finance minister, who is handling Congress’ election affairs in Goa, said.

    He also questioned the AAP’s promise to give a Rs 3,000 monthly allowance for unemployed youth in Goa.

    “Why the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is not extending the same benefits to people in Delhi?” he asked.

    “Should the BJP government come to power for another term of five years or should it be replaced by another Congress? This is the only question that you have to answer on St Valentine’s Day, February 14,” Chidambaram said.

    He said Goa is witnessing a wave of change to replace BJP.

    “A wave is sweeping across Goa which says that a period of 10 years is enough for the BJP and we have to replace it with another government,” the Congress veteran said.

    In the 2017 Assembly polls held in Goa, Congress won the maximum 17 of the 40 seats restricting the BJP at 13.

    However, BJP joined hands with regional allies to form a government under Manohar Parrikar (now deceased).

    The number of Congress MLAs reduced to just two over the last five years as the bulk of its leaders have switched to other parties with at least two moving to TMC.

    The Congress has already announced its pre-poll alliance with the GFP, while the TMC has a tie-up with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP).

  • Goa polls: Trinamool-MGP alliance promises resumption of mining, reservation for women

    By PTI

    PANAJI: The Trinamool Congress and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party have released their common manifesto for the upcoming Goa Assembly polls, promising resumption of mining operations and reservation for women in jobs and local bodies in the coastal state if they come to power.

    The mining operations, which used to be one of the main sources of revenue for Goa, came to a grinding halt in the state in March 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 mining leases.

    The poll manifesto, released by alliance partners TMC and MGP on Saturday ahead of the state polls on February 14, mentioned that “instituting environmentally sustainable mining practices with 80 per cent reservation for Goans in extraction contracts and mining jobs would be the priority” of their government.

    All income generated through the Goa Mineral Corporation would be utilised to fund welfare schemes in the state, it said.

    The manifesto also promised 33 per cent reservation for Goan women in all jobs, including the private sector, and 50 per cent reservation for women in all the local bodies.

    The TMC-MGP alliance has also assured two fast track courts to address crimes against women and children, and a mobile app for women’s safety.

    According to the manifesto, the TMC-MGP government would boost Goa’s gross domestic product to Rs 1.8 lakh crore from the existing Rs 0.71 lakh crore by creating 2,00,000 new jobs with 80 per cent reservation for Goans and 10,000 vacancies in the government sector to be filled in three years.

    The Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, which is contesting the Goa poll for the first time, forged an alliance with the state’s oldest regional party MGP last month.

    In the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, the MGP won three seats in the 40-member Assembly.

  • Dhankhar vs Mamata: Trinamool likely to bring motion against Bengal Governor in Rajya Sabha

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Amid the ongoing acrimony between the West Bengal government and Raj Bhavan, the ruling Trinamool Congress is likely to bring a substantive motion against Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming budget session of Parliament, a senior party MP said on Thursday.

    A substantive motion is a self-contained, independent proposal submitted for the approval of the House and drafted in such a way as to be capable of expressing a decision of the House.

    At a virtual meeting of the TMC parliamentary party in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it was also decided that the MPs will take up the issue of alleged attack on the federal structure and “efforts by the Centre” to snatch away the states’ rights, including its recent proposal to amend the IAS (Cadre) rules.

    Although the issue regarding floor coordination with the Congress was not discussed, a section of the TMC MPs said the party is likely to adopt a “flexible approach” on this.

    In the last winter session of Parliament, the party had decided against engaging in any form of floor coordination with the Congress.

    “At the meeting, Rajya Sabha Chief whip Sukhendu Shekhar Ray spoke about bringing in a substantive motion against the governor in the Rajya Sabha during the Budget session,” a senior TMC MP said on condition of anonymity.

    It has been decided that Ray will bring in the motion, he said.

    “The way the governor is meddling in the jurisdiction of the state is unprecedented. He is trying to create a problem and a controversy every day,” he said.

    On January 25, while speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on the National Voters Day, the governor not only castigated the Speaker and the chief minister for allegedly not providing the information he had sought, but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening”.

    A day later, Speaker Biman Banerjee said that in future his office might enquire about the purpose of any visit by Dhankhar to the Assembly, other than constitutionally mandatory appearances such as the governor’s address at the inaugural session of the House.

    Since he took charge in 2019, Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government over various issues.

    The TMC MP said the issues related to the alleged attack on the federal structure of the country would be raised in both Houses of Parliament.

    “We will raise the issue of (proposed amendments to) IAS cadre rules, attack on federal structure, attempt to undermine the authority of states, especially opposition ruled states, discrimination in the distribution of Covid vaccines, the BSF’s increased jurisdiction and bank privatisation,” he said.

    Till Wednesday, nine non-BJP ruled states have opposed the Centre’s proposal that gives it an overriding power while deciding on central deputation of IAS officers, whereas eight others have given their consent.

    The West Bengal CM had twice written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the proposed amendment to the IAS (Cadre) Rules claiming that it would lead to destruction of democracy.

    When asked whether anything was discussed about floor coordination with the Congress, several TMC MPs replied in the negative.

    “Most likely, this time we will adopt a flexible approach. We will continue to function as an opposition party. We have our own identity. We will raise issues concerning the masses, like weakening the federal structure.”

    “We will ask all opposition parties, including the Congress, to join us. Now whether they will join us or not depends on them,” a TMC MP said.

    The relationship between the Congress and the TMC had hit an all-time low in 2021.

    The TMC had slammed the grand old party over its alleged failure to fight against the BJP and dubbed it as an “incapable and incompetent” party that has gone into a “deep freezer”.

    The Congress has recently turned down the TMC’s offer for an alliance in the upcoming Goa assembly polls.

  • Warmth missing as Dhankhar, Mamata come face to face for Republic Day event; Suvendu hits out at Bengal CM

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The shadow of recent run-ins between the West Bengal governor and the Mamata Banerjee government fell on the Republic Day programme here, when Jagdeep Dhankhar and the chief minister came face to face at the venue.

    Though Banerjee greeted Dhankhar when the latter approached her after reaching the venue, the natural warmth of the Trinamool Congress supremo was clearly missing.

    Banerjee was seen not getting up from her chair until the governor came close to her.

    It was seen that at one point of time the CM turned her face away when Dhankhar was seen saying something to her.

    At the photo session, Banerjee kept a distance from the governor and stood close to state assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee with whom Dhankhar had a spat on the previous day.

    While speaking to the media after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on National Voters Day, Dhankhar not only castigated the speaker and the chief minister but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening” He had come down heavily on the Speaker, accusing him of violating constitutional norms and not providing information sought by him, including details of the assembly resolution on the extension of BSF’s area of operation.

    Reacting to Dhankhar’s accusations, the Speaker had said it was “extremely discourteous” of the governor to have made such remarks.

    Dhankhar has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government over various issues including appointment of vice chancellors of state universities and asking the chief secretary and police chiefs to appear before him.

    Later, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP alleged that the chief minister did not maintain protocol by not receiving the governor at the Republic Day event.

    “Arrogance of @MamataOfficial vs Humility of @jdhankhar1 at Republic Day function. A new low in observance of protocol and propriety by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” Adhikari tweeted.

    He asked: “Is it because there are no answers to the tough questions asked by Hon’ble Governor?” Reacting to Adhikari’s allegation, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh claimed that the BJP leader is a frustrated person as he had left the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP expecting many things and to escape from the raids by central agencies.

    “But he can see that the party is now disintegrating quickly (in the state),” Ghosh said.

    In a deepening of the spat between Governor Jagdeep Dhankar and the TMC-led state government, West Bengal assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee said on Wednesday he has requested for footage of the governor’s press meet held in the assembly premises a day before where he had attacked the state government and accused the speaker of transgressing constitutional norms, before deciding on his future course of action.

    Banerjee told reporters on the sidelines of a Republic Day function, that after scrutinising the footage, his office may in future enquire the purpose of any future visits by Dhankar, other than constitutionally mandatory appearances such as the governor’s address of the inaugural session of the house.

    Banerjee, a well known lawyer, also alleged that no governor in the past “had addressed the media in the fashion”, Dhankhar did on January 25, The Governor while speaking to the press after paying floral tributes at the statue of B R Ambedkar on the Assembly premises on the National Voters Day, not only castigated the speaker and the chief minister but also described the political condition in West Bengal as “horrible and frightening”. He said the governor had told the speaker before his visit that he would pay floral tributes to the founder of Constitution but “used the occasion (instead) to criticise the government inside the hallowed premises of the assembly which had never been done by any of his predecessors in past.”

    “He did not even go to the press corner situated in the premises,” the Speaker said.

    Banerjee also claimed Dhankhar did not inform his office about the status of bills such as those related to separating Howrah and Bally Municipal areas which had been passed by the house.

    BJP state President Sukanta Majumdar described the Speaker’s retort as a deliberate attempt to run down the office of governor and against the spirit of constitution.

    “The Speaker cannot consider assembly as his domain. He should act as Speaker not as the representative of Trinamool. In past the governor’s speech in house had been blacked out but the Speaker never acted on the issue,” the Balurghat MP said.

    The governor had said on Tuesday, “We have seen post-poll violence of unprecedented level. Those who dared to vote according to their own volition had to pay the price with their life. Democracy is in deep peril here.”

    Noting that a fact-finding committee appointed by the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission had observed that rule of the ruler and not the law prevails in the state, he had said, “this is an understatement; West Bengal’s situation is so horrible and frightening that there is horror about the ruler here.”

    He had also come down heavily on Speaker Biman Banerjee, accusing him of violating constitutional norms and not providing information sought by him, including details of the assembly resolution on the extension of BSF’s area of operation.

    Dhankhar also alleged his address to the assembly was blacked out twice.

    The Governor has had several run-ins with the West Bengal government including over appointment of vice chancellors of state universities and over asking the chief secretary and Police chiefs to appear before him.

    Speaker Banerjee too has in the past protested and written letters to President Ram Nath Kovind on Dhankar’s alleged “interference” in legislative matters.

    Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday claimed that he was not invited to the Republic Day parade here as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government was “yet to reconcile to her election defeat against him in Nandigram”.

    Talking to reporters on the sidelines of another programme, Adhikari said Banerjee tried to “avenge her humiliating assembly poll defeat” by dropping his name from the list of invitees for the Red Road parade.

    “She is yet to reconcile to her defeat against me. There could be a remedy to cancer but not to revengeful mindset and jealousy. The CM must have forgotten that not inviting the leader of opposition was against the protocol,” the Nandigram MLA, who was once a part of the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, said.

    Adhikari pointed out that last year, months ahead of the assembly polls, then leader of opposition Abdul Mannan was an invitee to the Republic Day parade.

    Transport Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim, when approached, said he had no information about the matter.

    Hakim, however, noted that Adhikari had “failed to turn up at the Independence Day programme on Red Road last year. I am not aware about the reasons”.

    Veteran Congress MP of Rajya Sabha Pradip Bhattacharya said he won’t be able to speak on behalf of the Nandigram MLA as the two don’t share the same ideology “but if what he has claimed is true it was unfortunate.

    The leader of opposition should always be invited to such events”.

    The CM, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, cabinet ministers were among those who attended the Red Road programme on Wednesday, held with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

  • Goa polls: Ahead of Trinamool top brass’ visit to state, party candidate arrested in cheque bouncing case

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Sandeep Vazarkar, the Trinamool Congress Party’s candidate from Porvorim for the February 14 Assembly elections in Goa, was arrested on Saturday in a cheque-bouncing case on the orders of a Dehradun court, police said here.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (Porvorim) Vishwesh Karpe said Vazarkar was arrested in the evening after a court at Dehradun issued bailable warrants against him in two different cases.

    The cases were registered under section 138 of the Indian Penal Code which deals with the `bouncing’ of cheques for lack of funds in bank account, the deputy SP said, adding that Goa Police did not have more information about the matter.

    Earlier, on December 30, Vazarkar had been arrested by Mapusa police in an alleged case of fraud.

    He was later released on the bail.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee are among the 30 star campaigners of the party for the Goa assembly poll, TMC said on Saturday.

    The list of campaigners for the February poll was released on Saturday.

    Former union minister Babul Supriyo, who quit BJP for TMC, state Sports Minister Manoj Tiwary, Howrah MP and former international footballer Prasun Banerjee, its Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev, TMC Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’ Brien, actor-turned Trinamool Yuva Morcha Bengal president Saayani Ghosh are among the other star campaigners, according to the list.

    Names of Luizinho Faleiro, MP and former Goa chief minister and Churchill Alemao, another former chief minister of the state also figure in the list.

    Assembly poll is slated to be held on February 14 in the coastal state, where Trinamool Congress is making a strong bid to increase its base.

  • ‘There is no problem’: Abhishek downplays feud with Trinamool leader Kalyan Banerjee

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday sought to downplay party MP Kalyan Banerjee’s veiled attacks on him on the issue of leadership, stating that both of them agree to the fact that Mamata Banerjee is their undisputed supremo.

    His remarks came amid perceived power struggle in the party and apparent differences between the generation-next leaders and a section of the old guards.

    Veteran TMC leader and MP Kalyan Banerjee had last week said that he doesn’t consider anyone else as his leader but Mamata Banerjee, while criticising Abhishek over a recent COVID-related suggestion.

    “Kalyan Banerjee asserted that Mamata Banerjee is his only leader. There is no problem with that as Mamata Banerjee is my only leader, too. There is no dispute, whatever Kalyan Banerjee has said is right,” Abhishek told reporters at a press meet in Goa.

    The TMC top leader, who is also the nephew of Mamata Banerjee, insisted that the comment by Kalyan Banerjee goes on to prove that there is “no high command culture in the party”.

    “And if he (Kalyan Banerjee) speaks against me, it proves there is democracy (in the TMC),” Abhishek said while replying to questions from a Bengali news channel.

    Kalyan Banerjee, when contacted, declined comment on Abhishek’s statement.

    “He is the honourable national general secretary of All India Trinamool Congress. I follow the instructions of Didi (Mamata Banerjee) in true spirit. I have nothing else to say,” he told PTI.

    Speaking about his “Diamond Harbour model” for tackling COVID-19 — one which faced flak for the sample test figure cited — Abhishek, during the press meet, said that self examination at home is not accounted for in the official records.

    “There are a few things which you need to understand. (Results obtained through) self-test kits don’t get recorded. I wanted to stress on self examination. If you conduct an RT-PCR test, it takes 24 hours to get the report. As this Omicron variant has a higher transmission rate, we decided to stress on the use of self-test kit,” the TMC’s Diamond Harbour MP explained.

    The parliamentarian also said that of the 53,000 single-day tests he had talked about, 20,000 were RT-PCR and related examinations and the rest 33,000 were done with self-kit at home.

    Asked if the ‘Diamond Harbour model’ would be replicated in others parts of the state, he asserted that the West Bengal government was working proactively to contain the COVID situation.

    According to TMC leaders close to the MP, the Diamond Harbour model emphasises on maximum number of tests in a single day, strict implementation of COVID-safety protocol, banning of political, social and religious meetings for the time being, a dedicated control room and WhatsApp number for coordination in every panchayat and municipality among other facilities.

    Talking about the recent arrest of an INTTUC leader following work disruption at Exide plant in Haldia, he said the party has zero tolerance towards such incidents.

    “If someone tries to malign the party, it will not be tolerated, no matter who the leader or worker is,” the TMC leader added.

  • AAP, Trinamool, Shiv Sena fared poorly in previous Goa polls: Election data 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Goa appears set for a multi-cornered contest where a fractured opposition is attempting to overthrow the BJP, which has been in power in the coastal state for the past 10 years.

    Congress has been insisting that it is the key challenger to the BJP and other parties – Trinamool, AAP, NCP-Shiv Sena – in the fray after failed talks for an alliance could only end up muddying its chances.

    A look at the previous election results shows that the BJP had polled the maximum votes – 32.48 per cent – to emerge victorious on 13 seats in the 40-member assembly, while the Congress had garnered 28.35 per cent votes and won 17 seats.

    In percentage terms, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) had polled 11.27 per cent votes and managed to win three seats, while 58 Independent candidates had together garnered 11.12 per cent votes and three had emerged victorious.

    The AAP, which has unveiled grand plans for Goa and declared Amit Palekar as its chief ministerial face, had polled 6.27 per cent votes in the 2017 elections and failed to open its account, while Sharad Pawar-led NCP had managed to garner 2.28 per cent of the total valid votes and won one seat.

    The Shiv Sena, which plans to contest the Goa elections in alliance with the NCP, had managed to poll just 0.09 per cent of the total valid votes cast in the 2017 elections.

    “Politics in Goa is largely controlled by land mafia, Shiv Sena wants to put the common man at the centrestage of politics in the state,” Sena leader Sanjay Raut had told the media.

    He had said the Shiv Sena and the NCP were keen to form a Maharashtra-like alliance with the Congress in Goa, but the efforts came a cropper.

    For the 2022 elections, the Congress has entered into an alliance with the Goa Forward Party, while the BJP has refrained from entering into any coalition and plans to put up candidates on all the 40 seats.

    The Trinamool Congress has entered into an alliance with the MGP and weaned away leaders from the Congress and the NCP claiming to be the real challenger to the BJP.

    The Trinamool was not in the fray in Goa in 2017 elections, but had put up 20 candidates in the 2012 elections and managed to poll 1.81 per cent of the total valid votes cast.

    “Trinamool Congress is not a headache for the BJP. It is a headache for the Congress and Goa,” former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP in-charge of Goa elections Devendra Fadnavis told reporters here.

    In the 2012 assembly elections, the BJP had polled 34.68 per cent votes, followed by the Congress (30.78 per cent), the MGP (6.72 per cent), the NCP (4.08 per cent), Independents (16.67 per cent) and the Shiv Sena (0.02 per cent).

  • Congress, Trinamool, MGP, Goa Forward must come together for polls: Sardesai

    Sardesai's GFP has already announced a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress, while the MGP and the TMC have formed their own alliance for elections to the 40-member assembly.

  • Voters won’t allow outsider parties to use Goa as lab for political experiments: Sawant

    Sawant was addressing a gathering in his native village of Kothambi in Sankhalim Assembly constituency, where he formally kicked off his election campaign for the polls.

  • After pointing out ‘mess’ at GTA, now Bengal Governor attacks Mamata over appointments of VCs of 24 universities

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar Thursday claimed that appointments of vice-chancellors of 24 universities in the state were made without his approval or in defiance of orders.

    Dhankhar is the ex-officio chancellor of the state-run universities, including Calcutta University, Jadavpur University and Presidency University.

    “VCs of 24 Universities appointed @MamataOfficial in disregard of law. These are ex facie in defiance of specific orders or without approval by Chancellor-the Appointing Authority,” the governor tweeted.

    “These appointments carry no legal sanction and would be forced to take action unless soon recalled,” he added.

    The warning comes close on the heels of chancellors and vice-chancellors of private universities not attending a meeting called by the governor earlier in the month at the Raj Bhawan here.

    Dhankhar is the visitor of private universities in the state.

    Claiming that the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) — an autonomous district council for Darjeeling and Kalimpong areas, was in a complete “mess”, Dhankhar on Wednesday sought updates about its operations from officials concerned.

    He also noted that GTA accounts have not been audited by CAG since its formation a decade ago.

    The governor, who is on a visit to Darjeeling, has asked the GTA administrator to personally update him about the council’s operations and way of functioning.

    He also sought an explanation in writing for “non-compliance of earlier directives”.

    “GTA @MamataOfficial in a mess. No CAG Audit for a decade since inception. No report to Governor #GTA functioning as per Section 55 (10) GTA Act, 2011,” Dhankhar tweeted.

    “Administrator #GTA directed to personally update and make available Reports under Section 55(10) of GTA Act by 30 December, 2021,” he said.

    Section 55 (10) of GTA Act, 2011 stipulates that the governor shall obtain a report on the functioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and cause that report to be laid on the table of the Legislative Assembly annually.

    The governor, in a letter to the GTA administrator, a copy of which was attached with the Twitter message, said that a disturbing situation has arisen, pointing towards “serious dereliction of duty by the concerned” with no report being made available to him in spite of firm directives.

    He also said that on the last occasion, the secretary of GTA, under instructions of the then administrator, who was on leave, had called on him in Darjeeling.

    Maintaining that there has been no response to issues flagged for urgent intervention by the administrator, the governor stated that “a serious view of the same is taken at this end and for such acts of omission and commission appropriate steps will emanate.”

    Insisting that the sequence of events indicate a determined defiance of the administrator, Dhankhar said inputs received on his end allege that GTA has become a “den of corruption”, where funds have been wrongly utilised in the absence of audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.