West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday described the Union Cabinet’s clearance to the creation of a separate Telangana state as a politically and electorally motivated decision. In a message posted on her Facebook page, she wrote: “It is only a political decision and an election decision. Five years ago, at the time of last general election, creation of a new state of Telangana was conceived. Now, after five years, just when another general election is knocking at the door, decision on a separate Telangana state has been taken.” Ms Banerjee had expressed similar views when the decision was taken in the last week of July. The decision had revived the Gorkhaland movement in the hills. GJM chief Bimal Gurung had resigned from the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration and gave a call for prolonged bandhs in the hills to press for his demand for Gorkhaland. Ms Banerjee, who had a tough time in suppressing the political unrest in the hills, had voiced her strong displeasure over the Congress Working Committee’s resolution after the UPA coordination committee had endorsed the statehood for Telangana.
