Mamata Banerjee after she almost fainted in Tufanganj. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Siliguri/Cooch Behar, May 13: Mamata Banerjee today said the failure of the Bengal government and the Centre to meet the aspirations of the people residing in the Darjeeling hills has given rise to the statehood demand.

The Trinamul Congress chief, who had come to north Bengal to campaign for panchayat polls, said her party would take up the issue once the elections are over. In recent times, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha under Bimal Gurung has revived the movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland in the hills.

“Staying in undeveloped areas over years with no initiative for growth in sight has contributed to the agitation,” Mamata told reporters at the New Jalpaiguri station where she arrived this morning from Calcutta while on way to Cooch Behar.

The Trinamul chief suggested that the government should negotiate with the Morcha before the situation spirals out of control.

“If one round of dialogue fails, consecutive rounds of talks should be carried out.”

Mamata, however, skipped questions on Trinamul’s stance on Gorkhaland and said it was yet to be discussed. But she added: “The Darjeeling hills are on the priority list of the CPM in the state and the Congress at the Centre only at the time of elections.”

In Cooch Behar’s Tufanganj, the Trinamul leader campaigned for 90 minutes before she almost collapsed while getting off the dais. She was, however, quickly provided with a chair and had water splashed on her face. After a break of 10 minutes, she told reporters that she was leaving for Mathabhanga, 80km away. “It was so hot that I almost fainted. I am feeling better now.”

Mamata also said she expected better performance from her party this time in north Bengal. “CPM cadres are continuously intimidating and attacking our candidates. But Trinamul will continue with its struggle.”