Overview
- A joint process of political talks and administrative follow-ups has stepped up after a GTA-led review meeting, with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista and Centre interlocutor Pankaj Kumar Singh planning a Kolkata meeting to push for a permanent political solution.
- The GTA convened a comprehensive review that set immediate service priorities, including filling doctor and nurse vacancies, assessing a medical college, restoring school recruitment standards, and sending an expert team to revive Darjeeling Hill University.
- Officials announced concrete relief and infrastructure moves during the review, with the chief minister approving 90 houses for Teesta flood victims and Rohini Road transferred to the state Public Works Department for repair and maintenance.
- Raju Bista told reporters that non-murder cases filed against political agitators during the previous government would be withdrawn and that the GTA faces liabilities above Rs 400 crore with roughly Rs 500 crore needed for development projects.
- Follow-up steps include planned visits by state ministers, an interlocutor trip to the Hills, expert assessments of projects and university work, and local consultations by Bista to build a unified Hill-party position for the talks.