West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again conveyed her strong objection to the Union government’s decision to appoint former Deputy National Security Advisor and ex-BSF Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh as interlocutor for tripartite talks concerning a permanent political resolution to the Gorkhaland issue.
In her latest letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she argued that the Centre’s move undermines the state’s authority and bypasses established legal frameworks governing the region.
Banerjee reiterated that the long-standing demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, involving Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and parts of the Terai and Dooars, is already regulated under state legislation, making the appointment unnecessary and unconstitutional.
This latest communication marks the second letter the Chief Minister has sent to the Prime Minister regarding the matter. Her first letter, dated October 18, had urged the Centre to reconsider the appointment.
The Chief Minister expressed concern that despite her earlier objections and the Prime Minister’s office acknowledging her correspondence, the Ministry of Home Affairs had proceeded with operationalising the interlocutor’s office.
A memo dated November 10 confirmed that the office had already begun functioning, prompting Banerjee to describe the development as ‘shocking’.
Banerjee Calls Appointment ‘Unilateral’ and ‘Arbitrary’
In her latest letter, Banerjee termed the Centre’s decision a ‘unilateral’ and ‘arbitrary’ act devoid of any constitutional or statutory backing.
She emphasised that no valid legal authority supports the appointment and argued that the Centre had failed to provide any explanation or jurisdictional basis for such an ‘extraordinary and unwarranted step’.
The Chief Minister contended that the move represents an encroachment on the federal structure, undermining both state autonomy and the principles of cooperative federalism, core features of the Indian Constitution.
Banerjee stressed that the Centre’s intervention disrupts the balance of power between the Union and state governments, especially in matters governed by state law.
She warned that such decisions could set a concerning precedent for Centre–state relations.
As the stand-off intensifies, political observers expect further exchanges between the state and the Centre as both sides hold firm on their respective positions regarding the future of administrative processes in the Darjeeling hills.
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