Kurseong, March 25: Krishna Subba and Balaram Chettri of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha were today sworn in chairman and vice-chairman of the Kurseong Municipality at a ceremony held at Gorkha Community Hall.

This is the first time that the oath taking ceremony of the municipality was held outside its premises. Subdivisional officer of Kurseong Dipyendu Das, who administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Morcha leaders, said the venue was shifted since the number of people invited were more than what the municipal office could accommodate.

Subba clad in a grey suit was seen gently speaking to his predecessor P.C. Agarwal of the GNLF in the hall, the walls of which were decorated with marigold flowers.

The Morcha, which had only two councillors earlier, could grab the 20-member civic body after nine councillors withdrew support to the GNLF board last month and switched allegiance. Later, two independents also joined the Morcha, raising the number to 13.

The municipality here is the first civic body in the hills the Morcha could grab after it was formed by Bimal Gurung in October

Agarwal in his speech reminded the new board that the previous dispensation had already finalised a sewerage project entailing a cost of Rs 12.5 crore. He said since the project had to be completed within two years, Subba and his team, who had only one year left to end the current term, would have to carefully utilise the money sanctioned by the central and state governments.

After the ceremony, Subba said: “Since people have a lot of expectations from us, we will concentrate on solving drinking water problem, repair of roads, cleaning the town and many more.

“In one year, we hope to do more than what we could have in five years,” said Subba.

The new chairman also said a complaint box would be hung at the municipal office for people to air their grievances.

Lawyers form body

A section of advocates in Kalimpong have come out in support of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and formed a body called Lawyers’ Forum for Gorkhaland. Pravakar Dewan, the secretary of the Kalimpong Bar Association, is the president of the new organisation.