Prime Minister Narendra Modi: In a significant turn of events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Union Home Minister to review the appointment of a new interlocutor for the hill districts of Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars in West Bengal. The decision by the Centre, which came without prior consultation with the state government, was met with sharp objections from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed the move undermined the spirit of cooperative federalism. Sources indicate that the Prime Minister’s prompt order to “look into the issues raised by the Chief Minister” signals a strategic recalibration by the Centre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: What Triggered the Controversy
Late in October 2025, the Centre appointed Pankaj Kumar Singh (former Deputy National Security Adviser and ex-DG BSF) as “Interlocutor and Government Representative” with the rank of Secretary, tasked with exploring “social-economic upliftment, cultural recognition and preservation of the heritage of the Gorkha community” in the hill, Terai and Dooars regions of north Bengal.
However, the West Bengal government was not consulted before this move. CM Mamata Banerjee promptly wrote to the Prime Minister on October 18, expressing shock and requesting that the appointment be reconsidered and revoked. She argued that matters concerning the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) and the hills fall under the purview of the state government and that unilateral central action threatens peace and stability.
The Prime Minister’s Office conveyed via the appointment cell on October 21 that the Home Ministry was to take note of the objections and conduct a review.
The Meaning and Stakes of the Appointment
The appointment of an interlocutor for the region is not just administrative — it carries political, cultural and electoral significance:
- The Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars are known for long-standing demands for upliftment, recognition of tribal status for Gorkha communities, and periodic calls for a separate state of Gorkhaland.
- The move by the Centre reignites those aspirations and gives them renewed legitimacy in the hills.
- For the West Bengal government, it signals a bypassing of state authority and a shift in federal dynamics.
- With assembly elections on the horizon, any change in the hill region’s political landscape could impact party prospects both locally and statewide.
Observers believe the Centre may be using the appointment as an early indication of readiness to address the hill region’s demands, but the state government sees it as an intrusion.
Chief Minister’s Objections: Cooperative Federalism and Governance
In her letter, CM Banerjee emphasised three main objections:
- Lack of consultation: She wrote the decision was taken “without any consultation with the Government of West Bengal … inconsistent with the spirit of cooperative federalism” which the Constitution envisages.
- Governance domain: She argued that the issues under discussion — governance, peace, administrative stability of the GTA region — fall under the state government’s jurisdiction and hence central intervention should be in full consultation.
- Fragile peace in the hills: The letter pointed out that the relatively peaceful situation in the hill districts resulted from sustained state-government efforts and that unilateral initiatives may disturb communal and social harmony.
By raising these objections, the CM has placed the issue into a federal constitutional frame rather than purely a regional aspiration issue.
Centre’s Response: Strategic Re-assessment
The urgency of the Prime Minister’s instruction to revisit the appointment indicates that the Centre is carefully weighing the hill politics and federal response. Key indicators:
- The appointment had already been made, yet the review directive suggests the Centre is sensitive to state objections.
- It shows the Centre’s awareness of the electoral and political landscape in West Bengal, especially ahead of upcoming polls.
- The hill region’s demands — tribal status for 11 Gorkha communities, recognition of Gorkhaland aspirations — are delicate, involving multiple stakeholders and layers of complexity.
- A recalibration could mean either enhanced engagement with the state government or a delay/altered appointment process.
It remains to be seen whether the interlocutor’s brief will be modified, or whether a deeper negotiation framework will be introduced with state involvement.
Hill Region Dynamics: Darjeeling, Terai & Dooars
The Darjeeling hills, accompanied by the Terai and Dooars regions, have a distinct socio-political history:
- The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), formed in 2011 via a tripartite agreement between Centre, West Bengal government and the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha, provides autonomous governance in the hill districts.
- The region houses multiple ethnic communities, border proximity, tea-garden labour populations, and development deficits—making it politically volatile.
- Electoral weight is significant: though only a few MLAs are from the hills (typically three of Bengal’s 294 seats), the symbolic value and political momentum can have wider ripple effects statewide.
- Stakeholder groups: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), BJP hill franchises, state government actors — all have varying positions on statehood, tribal status and autonomy.
The appointment of an interlocutor at such a juncture directly touches the nerve centre of regional identity, autonomy and development.
Political Implications Ahead of State Elections
With West Bengal’s next Assembly election expected in 2026, multiple strategic dimensions are in play:
- The BJP — which has made inroads in the hills and north Bengal — may use the interlocutor appointment to show commitment to hill aspirations and challenge the TMC’s dominance.
- The TMC, fearing erosion of support in the hills and north Bengal, may highlight the lack of consultation and insist on state primacy in hill governance.
- The state government’s protest positions it as the defender of federalism and local autonomy, potentially appealing to both hill and plain-area voters concerned about central overreach.
- The timing of the appointment and immediate pushback could become a campaign issue about who truly addresses hill issues and development.
Governance, Federalism & Institutional Architecture
This development raises broader governance questions:
- What is the appropriate balance of power between Centre and state, especially in autonomous regions like GTA?
- When issues relate to identity, tribal status and autonomy, how should consultation frameworks be built to avoid top-down moves?
- Is the establishment of a Central interlocutor without state involvement indicative of a shift in federal practice or a one-off special case?
- How will such appointments affect institutional trust — for example, if local stakeholders feel bypassed?
Federal governance experts say that cooperative federalism must engage states in sensitive regional matters rather than deliver unilateral decisions that may trigger backlash.
What to Watch in the Coming Weeks
Several developments will determine the trajectory of this issue:
✔ Will the Centre issue a revised or withdrawn notification of the interlocutor?
✔ Will the state and Centre hold joint talks over the appointment and its mandate?
✔ How will hill community organisations respond: will they support the appointment, oppose it, or demand altered terms?
✔ Will the issue escalate into protests or electoral mobilisation in the hill districts?
✔ How will the state government frame this issue in its campaign strategy — as a federalism theme, as a hill-region issue, or as a plain-area governance concern?
External Government/Official Links
- Government of India – Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
https://mha.gov.in - Government of India – Cabinet Secretariat – Interlocutor Appointment Structures
https://cabinet.gov.in - Government of West Bengal – Institutional Portal
https://wb.gov.in - Election Commission of India – State Election Data & Governance Framework
https://eci.gov.in
Conclusion
The Centre’s appointment of an interlocutor for the Darjeeling, Terai and Dooars region—and the subsequent directive to reassess that appointment after objections from the West Bengal government—represent a critical flashpoint in Centre-State relations, hill-region politics and electoral strategy.
The move has far-reaching implications: For the hill communities it involves recognition, autonomy and development; for the state government it touches federal legitimacy and governance control; for the Centre it signals strategy ahead of statewide elections and its approach to regional demands.
In this intersection of identity, autonomy and politics, the ultimate outcome will rest on whether meaningful consultation, transparent process and regional trust-building are prioritised — or whether the issue becomes functionally another campaign motif.
If you like, I can expand this further with a 3000-word full feature including interviews with local hill leaders, historical background on GTA, the tribal-status demand, and a map and analysis of hill-constituency electoral weight.
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