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Rabi Banerjee
Rabi Banerjee

GORKHALAND

With top Gorkha leaders missing, BJP gives TMC a tough fight in Darjeeling

FILES-INDIA-UNREST-POLITICS-TOURISM Bimal Gurung called off 104-day shutdown in Darjeeling on September 26 | AFP

In the absence of top Gorkha leaders Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri, the BJP is trying to make its presence felt in Darjeeling.

The GJM, the most powerful party in hills till late, is in disarray as senior party leaders have been booked under UAPA. Another part of the party leadership led by Binay Tamang has switched to Trinamool Congress as an alliance partner with other political parties like GNLF, the forgotten party of late Subas Ghising.

In the absence of Gorkha leaders, the BJP has decided not to leave the field to Trinamool Congress unchallenged. BJP’s West Bengal president, Dilip Ghosh reached Darjeeling. But he was met with resistance as GNLF and GJM members waived black flags at him and in many places his car was obstructed from moving further.

“Hill parties are trying to create problem for BJP at the instruction of Trinamool Congress. They are afraid of legal punishment by the West Bengal government,” said Ghosh.

Bimal Gurung and his close associate Roshan Giri have been hiding since they were slapped with UAPA. Gurung withdrew 104 day-old shutdown in Darjeeling on September 26 after the Centre assured him of tripartite talks. But West Bengal government has not agreed to withdraw cases against Gurung or Giri. The Trinamool Congress and its allies parties have questioned BJP’s stand on separate state issue in Darjeeling.

“Two MPs were elected from Darjeeling in last two elections for supporting the Gorkhaland. BJP leaders would have to say whether they support Gorkhaland or not,” said Harka Bahadur Chetry, chief of Jana Andolon Party (JAP).

The BJP had earlier supported the Gorkhaland issue in Darjeeling at a time when in rest of West Bengal it was not a force to reckon with. But now as BJP has secured second position in all recent elections in the state after 2016 assembly election in 2016, the saffron party may not like to play the Gorkhaland card in Darjeeling.

“We have decided that Gorkhaland should be given to people of Darjeeling only after unanimity. BJP will not be the party to gift them the separate statehood. But we value their sentiment,”said Biswapriyo Roy Chowdhury, state general secretary of BJP.

According to sources, BJP will use the GJM support base and turn them into party allies. Till Gurung and Giri return to the hills, BJP will try to fill the void left by them.

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