Mamata Banerjee Saturday said the Trinamool Congress will not contest the Gorkha Territorial Administration poll in Darjeeling. The Trinamool had initially fielded candidates in 17 seats. After 28 of 45 seats were won uncontested by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM),the contest was restricted between the Trinamool and GJM two allies in the Bengal government. Mamata said her party withdrew from the election as she does not want any confrontation with the GJM. Our brothers from the hills have won the election as 28 of the 45 seats were declared uncontested. So Bimal Gurung and his party have got absolute majority. We were to contest the election as it is a democratic process. But we have decided to withdraw in the larger interest of the state. GJM reciprocated by saying it will not want to separate from Bengal as long as the Trinamool is in power. The two will go hand in hand to achieve the goal of proper development for Darjeeling and its people, said GJM MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri.
