62.254.124.238: general added lead for clarity further and corrected details

2026-03-14T19:47:29Z

general added lead for clarity further and corrected details

>Elizium23: unsourced; WP:NPOV

2021-06-17T05:09:02Z

unsourced; WP:NPOV

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{{EngvarB|date=May 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
| native_name = गोर्खाल्याण्ड क्षेत्रीय प्रशासन
| native_name_lang = Nepali
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Autonomous regions of India|Autonomous district council]]
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_seal = Gorkhaland Territorial Administration seal.png
| seal_alt = Official seal
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label = Darjeeling
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of GTA in West Bengal, India
| coordinates = {{coord|27.03|N|88.16|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[Darjeeling District|Darjeeling]], [[Kalimpong District|Kalimpong]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 14 March 2012
| founder =
| seat_type = [[Headquarters]]
| seat = [[Darjeeling]]
| parts_type = Covering Territory
| parts_style = para
| parts = 
| p1 = [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision]]
| p2 = [[Kurseong subdivision]]
| p3 = [[Mirik subdivision]]
| p4 = [[Siliguri subdivision]] (some part only)
| p5 = [[Kalimpong district]]
| government_footnotes =
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| leader_title2 = [[Chairman]]
| leader_name2 = [[Anit Thapa]]
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 3303.98
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total = 878,002
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate =
| website = http://gtadmin.org
| footnotes =
}}
[[File:NE Autonomous divisions of India.svg|350px|right|North Eastern autonomous divisions]]

The '''Gorkhaland Territorial Administration''' (often abbreviated as GTA) is an [[Autonomous District Council]] for the [[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]] and [[Kalimpong district|Kalimpong]] areas of the [[West Bengal]] state in [[India]]. The GTA was formed in 2012 to replace the [[Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council]], which was formed in 1988 and administered the Darjeeling hills for 23 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=728097|title=Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Agreement signed|publisher=Outlook|date=18 July 2011|access-date=16 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603154514/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=728097|archive-date=3 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2246756.ece|title=Pact signed for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration|work=The Hindu|date=18 July 2011|access-date=16 March 2012|location=Chennai, India|first=Ananya|last=Dutta}}</ref> GTA presently consists of three hill subdivisions [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision|Darjeeling]], [[Kurseong subdivision|Kurseong]], [[Mirik subdivision|Mirik]], some areas of [[Siliguri subdivision]] of Darjeeling district and the whole of [[Kalimpong district]] under its authority.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gorkhaland Territorial Administration |url=http://gtadmin.org/ |website=gtadmin.org |access-date=14 August 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
{{main|Gorkhaland movement}}
Gorkhaland is the name of the proposed state in India that the [[Nepali language|Nepali]]-speaking [[Indian Gorkha|Gorkha]] ethnic group in the district of [[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]] and [[Kalimpong]] and the [[Dooars]] in northern region of [[West Bengal]] have expressed a desire to create. A demand for a separate administrative unit in Darjeeling has existed since 1909, when the [[Hillmen's Association of Darjeeling]] submitted a memorandum to [[Minto-Morley Reforms]] demanding a separate administrative setup. The term ''Gorkhaland'' was coined by [[Subhash Ghisingh]], leader of [[Gorkha National Liberation Front]], who led a violent agitation for its formation in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/news/Interviews/Interview-with-subash-ghisingh.html|title=Interview with Subhash Ghisingh|work=Darjeeling Times|date=11 January 2008|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> This movement culminated with the formation of [[Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council]] (DGHC) in 1988. The DGHC did not fulfill its goal of forming a new state, which led to the downfall of Subhash Ghisingh<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/11/stories/2008031154731100.htm|title=Subhas Ghising resigns|work=The Hindu|date=11 March 2008|access-date=16 March 2012|location=Chennai, India}}</ref> and the rise of another party [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] (GJM) headed by [[Bimal Gurung]] in 2007, which launched a second agitation for a Gorkhaland state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.rediff.com/column/2010/jun/03/gjm-leader-bimal-gurung-utterly-self-possessed-and-apparently-ruthless.htm|title=GJM leader Bimal Gurung|work=The Hindu|date=3 June 2010|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref>

=== Formation of GTA ===
After three years of agitation for a state of Gorkhaland led by GJM, the GJM reached an agreement with the state government to form a semi-autonomous body to administer the Darjeeling hills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article432036.ece|title=Darjeeling issue solved: Mamata|publisher=Express Buzz|date=8 June 2011|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> A bill for the creation of GTA was passed in the [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] on 2 September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-03/kolkata/30110031_1_territorial-administration-bill-harka-bahadur-chhetri-gjm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106070457/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-03/kolkata/30110031_1_territorial-administration-bill-harka-bahadur-chhetri-gjm|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=GTA Bill passed with 54 amendments|date=3 September 2011|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> The GTA aimed to have administrative, executive and financial powers but no legislative powers. A 10-member joint verification committee headed by a retired High Court judge examined the demand to bring the Gorkha-inhabited pockets of the Dooars and the [[Terai]] under the GTA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110730/jsp/frontpage/story_14309540.jsp|title=Ex-judge to head hill committee|work=The Telegraph|date=30 July 2011|access-date=16 March 2012|location=Calcutta, India}}</ref>

=== Memorandum of Agreement ===
The Memorandum of Agreement<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/images/stories/news_images/2011/jul11/jul15/finalmos.pdf|title=Full text of GTA MoA|work=Darjeeling Times|date=15 July 2011|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> for GTA was signed on 18 July 2011 at Pintail Village near [[Siliguri]] in the presence of Union Home Minister [[P. Chidambaram]], West Bengal chief minister [[Mamata Banerjee]] and [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] leaders.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.indiangorkhas.in/2011/07/gorkhaland-territorial-administration.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305003752/http://www.indiangorkhas.in/2011/07/gorkhaland-territorial-administration.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 5 March 2016|title = Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)|work = Indian Gorkhas}}</ref> The agreement was signed by West Bengal Home Secretary G.D. Gautama, Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary K.K. Pathak and [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] general secretary Roshan Giri.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?728097|title=Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Agreement signed|publisher=Outlook|date=18 July 2011|access-date=16 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719180442/http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?728097|archive-date=19 July 2011}}</ref>

=== Demand for GATA ===
On 29 October 2011, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP), Dooars Unit signed an 18-point agreement at Mongpoo, after which these organizations jointly proposed a new administrative body called the Gorkhaland and Adivasi Territorial Administration (GATA) in place of the GTA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/delhi/plea-to-rename-gorkha-council_738966.html|title=Plea to rename Gorkha council|publisher=Zee News|date=30 October 2011|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> The ABAVP decided to agree to incorporate 196 mouzas of the Dooars and 199 mouzas of the Terai region into the proposed GATA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=388679&catid=72|title=GJMM-ABAVP joint deputation on GATA|publisher=The Statesman|date=2 November 2011|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref>

=== President's assent and high-power committee report ===
The [[President of India]] [[Pratibha Patil]] gave her assent to the GTA Bill of West Bengal on 7 March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Chunk-HT-UI-IndiaSectionPage-TopStories/President-gives-her-assent-to-the-GTA-Bill/Article1-822330.aspx|title=President gives her assent to the GTA Bill|work=Hindustan Times|date=7 March 2012|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref>
The West Bengal government issued a gazette notification for the GTA Act on 14 March 2012, signalling preparations for elections for the GTA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-15/kolkata/31196654_1_darjeeling-hills-gorkha-janmukti-morcha-gjm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422181836/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-15/kolkata/31196654_1_darjeeling-hills-gorkha-janmukti-morcha-gjm|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2012|title=Gorkha territory readies for polls|date=15 March 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=16 March 2012}}</ref> In a meeting held on 24 March 2012 between GJM leaders and the West Bengal government, it was decided that the election to the GTA would be held in the end of June or in July 2012.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/WestBengal/High-powered-committee-on-GTA-emerges-as-a-perfect-instrument-to-resolve-impasse/Article1-830368.aspx|title=High-powered committee on GTA emerges as a perfect instrument to resolve impasse|work=Hindustan Times|date=24 March 2012|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> The Justice Sen Committee would be requested to submit its report on the inclusion of additional areas of Terai and Dooars in the GTA by early June 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=757073|title=GJM climbs down GTA demand, says polls in June–July|publisher=Outlook|date=24 March 2012|access-date=24 March 2012}}</ref> The WB government released a list of 45 constituencies of the GTA on 26 May 2012 to which elections are to be held in July 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Gorkhaland-Territorial-Administration-draft-lists-17-new-constituencies/articleshow/13548203.cms|title=Gorkhaland Territorial Administration draft lists 17 new constituencies|work=The Times of India|date=27 May 2012|access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> The high-powered committee headed by retired judge [[Shyamal Kumar Sen]] that was set up by the West Bengal government recommended inclusion of just five [[mouza]]s under the proposed GTA although the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha had demanded 398 mouzas from the Dooars and Terai regions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/darjeeling-might-be-violent-again/articleshow/13966042.cms|title=Darjeeling might be violent again|work=The Economic Times|date=9 June 2012|access-date=9 June 2012}}</ref> The West Bengal government announced that it would set up a three-member "Fact Verification Committee" to go into the recommendations of Justice Sen Committee after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha rejected its report.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.business-standard.com/generalnews/news/govt-to-setfact-verification-committeegjm-demand/21365/|title=Govt to set up Fact Verification committee on GJM demand|work=Business Standard|date=16 June 2012|access-date=1 July 2012}}</ref> The [[Calcutta High Court]] admitted on 19 June 2012 the case moved by Gorkha National Liberation Front leader Subhash Ghisingh challenging the legality of the GTA. Justice Dipankar Dutta told the three signatories to the GTA agreement – the central government, the state government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha – to file affidavits stating their stand on Ghisingh's contention.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120620/jsp/siliguri/story_15631990.jsp#.T-H8sbWES8o|title=HC allows Ghisingh GTA plea – Affidavit order for govts & Morcha|work=The Telegraph|date=20 June 2012|access-date=20 June 2012|location=Calcutta, India|first=Our|last=Legal}}</ref>

== Elections ==
=== GTA election 2012 ===
The West Bengal government announced that the election for the GTA would be held on 29 July 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/kolkata/32424010_1_gorkha-janmukti-morcha-gjm-shyamal-sen-committee-report|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103173246/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-26/kolkata/32424010_1_gorkha-janmukti-morcha-gjm-shyamal-sen-committee-report|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|title=State sets July 29 date for GTA polls|date=26 June 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=1 July 2012}}</ref> The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announced that it would contest the GTA polls, which it had earlier threatened to boycott over the Justice Sen-headed committee recommendations on territorial inclusion of the Dooars and Terai that it had rejected.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/WestBengal/Gorkha-Janmukti-Morcha-to-contest-GTA-elections/Article1-881430.aspx|title=Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to contest GTA elections|work=The Hindustan Times|date=30 June 2012|access-date=1 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701015423/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/WestBengal/Gorkha-Janmukti-Morcha-to-contest-GTA-elections/Article1-881430.aspx|archive-date=1 July 2012}}</ref> After a period of silence, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha announced the names of its GTA election nominees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120706/jsp/siliguri/story_15697611.jsp|title=GTA list of 32 but no Gurung|work=The Telegraph|date=5 July 2012|access-date=7 July 2012|location=Calcutta, India|first=Vivek|last=Chhetri}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120707/jsp/frontpage/story_15700400.jsp|title=Gurung in GTA fray|work=The Telegraph|date=6 July 2012|access-date=7 July 2012|location=Calcutta, India|first=Vivek|last=Chhetri}}</ref> Parties that formed the Gorkhaland Task Force ([[Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists|CPRM]], [[ABGL]], [[Gorkha National Liberation Front (C.K. Pradhan)|GNLF(C)]], Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha and others) decided not contest the GTA elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/gjm-faces-heat-rival-parties-strong-arm-tactics-144738644.html|title=GJM faces heat from rival parties for strong-arm tactics|publisher=Yahoo News|date=7 July 2012|access-date=8 July 2012}}</ref> Both [[CPI(M)]] and [[Trinamool Congress]] fielded candidates in the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/darjeeling-gta-election-is-taking-one-sided-shape/articleshow/14717481.cms|title=Darjeeling GTA election is taking one sided shape|work=The Economic Times|date=6 July 2012|access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref> The GNLF decided to boycott the elections and its chairman filed a case in the Kolkata High Court challenging the GTA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/article3583517.ece|title=Gurung challenges Ghising to contest GTA polls|work=The Hindu|date=29 June 2012|access-date=7 July 2012|location=Chennai, India|first=Marcus|last=Dam}}</ref> The CPI(M) withdrew the nominations of all its 13 candidates from the GTA elections, alleging threats and intimidation by the GJM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/07/12/254--All-CPI-M-candidates-pull-out-of-Gorkhaland-polls-.html|title=All CPI-M candidates pull out of Gorkhaland polls|publisher=News track India/IANS|date=12 July 2012|access-date=15 July 2012}}</ref> and the GJM received 28 seats of the GTA uncontested.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120713/jsp/siliguri/story_15722547.jsp|title=Morcha gets 28, Gurung thanks CPM|work=The Telegraph|date=13 July 2012|access-date=15 July 2012|location=Calcutta, India|first1=Vivek|last1=Chhetri|first2=Avijit|last2=Sinha}}</ref> In the elections of the remaining 17 seats of the GTA held on 29 July 2012, GJM candidates won from all the constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darjeelingtimes.com/main-news/politics/4936-gjm-sweeps-maiden-gta-polls-not-to-give-up-gorkhaland-demand.html|title=GJM sweeps maiden GTA polls, not to give up Gorkhaland demand|publisher=Darjeeling Times/IANS|date=2 August 2012|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> Sanchabir Subba, the rebel [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] candidate from Gitdabling-Nimbong, narrowly lost to the party's official contestant Kalyan Dewan by 677 votes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120803/jsp/siliguri/story_15806782.jsp#.UB4clk0gfao|title=Lone rebel Subba loses|work=The Telegraph|date=3 August 2012|access-date=5 August 2012|location=Calcutta, India|first=Rajeev|last=Ravidas}}</ref> The newly elected members of the GTA were sworn in on 4 August 2012 at Darjeeling in the presence of home minister [[Sushilkumar Shinde]] and [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]] [[Mamata Banerjee]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gorkha-Territorial-Administration-members-sworn-in-Shinde-Mamata-assure-support/articleshow/15352094.cms |title=Gorkha Territorial Administration members sworn in; Shinde, Mamata assure support |work=The Times of India |date=5 August 2012 |access-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804212156/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gorkha-Territorial-Administration-members-sworn-in-Shinde-Mamata-assure-support/articleshow/15352094.cms |archive-date=4 August 2012 }}</ref>

{{electiontable|Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election, 2012 |Summary of results of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election, 2012|sortable=yes}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://darjeeling.gov.in/GTAelected_candidates.html|title=GTA Elections 2012|work=Darjeeling.gov.in|access-date=20 February 2017}}</ref>

|-
|
|Political Party
|Seats Contested
|Seats Won
|Net Change in Seats
|-
{{Party name with colour|Gorkha Janmukti Morcha}}
||45||45||-|-
|-
{{Party name with colour|All India Trinamool Congress}}
||17||0||-|-
|-
|}

== Regional Political Parties of Gorkhaland ==
* [[Gorkha Janmukti Morcha]] (GJM)
* [[Gorkha National Liberation Front]] (GNLF)
* [[Gorkha National Liberation Front (C.K. Pradhan)]] (GNLF-P)
* Gorkhaland Rajya Nirman Morcha (GRNM)
* [[Gorkha Rashtriya Congress]]
* [[Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League]] / All India Gorkha League (ABGL)
* [[Bharatiya Gorkha Janashakti]]

* [[Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists]] (CPRM)

=== Defunct Political Parties of Gorkhaland ===
* [[Sikkim Janashakti Party ]] (SJP) {merged with [[Indian National Congress]] in 1999}

== Social Organisations supporting Gorkhaland ==
* [[Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh]] (Bhagop)

== See also ==
* [[Autonomous regions of India]]
* [[Gorkhaland movement]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.facebook.com/GorkhalandTerritorialAdministration Gorkhaland Territorial Administration]

{{Autonomous administrative divisions of India}}

[[Category:Politics of Gorkhaland]]
[[Category:Government of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Autonomous regions of India]]
[[Category:2011 in Indian politics]]
[[Category:Politics of Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:Darjeeling district]]
[[Category:Kalimpong district]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in West Bengal]]

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration - Revision history

62.254.124.238: general added lead for clarity further and corrected details

->Rachhenhang Rai at 15:01, 26 December 2021

>Elizium23: unsourced; WP:NPOV