Morcha-backed Kalchini MLA joins Trinamool

TNN | Mar 24, 2013: KOLKATA: In a blow to Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, GJM-supported independent MLA from Kalchini, Wilson Champramari, joined Trinamool Congress on Saturday. 

Trinamool general secretary Mukul Roy announced in Kolkata that Champramari would be an associate member of Trinamool. 

Champramari's desertion came in the wake of about 100 GJM supporters joining its arch rival Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in Tindharia on Friday. Last Sunday, an equal number of GJM supporters in Kurseong had crossed over to GNLF. Earlier, there had been desertions from GJM to Trinamool in Panighatta in the foothills. GJM leader from Dooars Padam Lama, too, had switched to Trinamool. 

While Roy said that the recent developments would strengthen Trinamool in Dooars and Terai, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said Champramari's joining Trinamool would not affect GJM in Dooars as "he does not have popular support". Describing Champramari's move as "a betrayal of the people of Dooars," he said "Champramari did not work according to the mandate of the people." 

Observers in Jalpaiguri, however, said that GJM leaders in Dooars had little option but to leave the party as GJM was fast losing its support base in Dooars. While GJM had won over the support of a section of the people of Dooars with the assurance that the area would be included in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, it could not live up to the promise. 

Trinamool, on the other hand, is in a hurry to spread its organization in the Dooars, because of the approaching panchayat election. Trinamool leaders are learnt to be in touch with the two factions of Adivasi Vikash Parishad. 

Desertions from the GJM in Dooars ahead of the panchayat poll would also be a shot in the arm for Trinamool, observers said. 

GNLF leaders in Darjeeling had claimed that GJM supporters were joining them as they had become disillusioned with the GTA experiment, because of the souring of relations between GJM and the state government, and now preferred the sixth schedule experiment which GNLF had championed. 

The other view, however, is that GNLF is benefitting from the disillusionment of common people of Hills with GJM which is now neglecting the GTA. Observers in Darjeeling said people in the hills now wanted peace and development. 

They felt GJM president Bimal Gurung had resumed the statehood agitation too soon, fearing that formation of Telangana was round the corner. "Being by the side of the hill people, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has won over their support. There will not be unrest in the hills, even if someone tries to engineer it," Roy said.