The West Bengal government has appointed Principal Secretary Smritiranjan Mohanty as the new administrator of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to end the long administrative deadlock in the hills. An official notification for this appointment was issued by the Department of Home and Hill Affairs.
A leadership crisis began at Lalkothi in Darjeeling after Anith Thapa resigned from the post of chief executive of the GTA in June. Development works in the hills were reportedly getting affected due to the absence of a governing board.
The state government has given the responsibility of administrator to the principal secretary to keep the administrative system running smoothly until new elections are held. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista has welcomed this decision by the state government. The GTA work will now be managed through the administrator until elections take place.
