Anti-TMC ‘United Gorkha Alliance’ formed after series of talks chaired by BJP MP Raju Bista last week. Ruling party in Bengal says not threatened by ‘sudden Opposition unity’.
With the West Bengal govt's push for opening homestays and creating more jobs, private players are being bullish on expanding tea estate tourism in the city.
Hamro Party's Ajoy Edwards, GJM's Bimal Gurung & influential leader Binay Tamang have joined forces. The 3, says Tamang, will form a committee to strategise their Gorkhaland movement.
A two-cup pot of Darjeeling tea costs Rs 500 at cafes in Kurseong and elsewhere. An eight-hour-long grinding shift at tea gardens earns the workers Rs 230 as daily wage.
On tour, Mamata has been known to make unscheduled visits to people's homes — making chai or frying pakoras for public. TMC describes this as sign of her being a grassroots leader.
VIPs make beeline to Darjeeling as new Gorkhaland Territorial Administration headed by Anit Thapa takes over following poll victory. Bengal, Assam CMs have 'courtesy' meeting over tea.
Anit Thapa’s party contested 26 seats out of a total of 45 seats in GTA elections, held after 10 years. The BJP however doesn’t see him as much of a threat.
With candidates including teachers, tour guides, single mothers & a taxi driver, Hamro Party defeated TMC & BJP. It could set tone for Gorkhaland Territorial Administration polls.
Tea imports from Nepal rose by over 60% last year and this year, till June, it crossed over 50%. Growers say only solution is banning the sale of loose Darjeeling tea.
While global corporations setting up GCCs in India continue to express confidence in availability of skilled AI engineers, the panel argued that India’s real challenge lies elsewhere.
Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.
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