Two factions of ABAVP to be unified

SNS, Siliguri, 13 January 2014: Two factions of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad ~ the mainstream one led by its state president, Birsa Tirkey and the breakaway group, based in the Dooars, loyal to the rebel Adivasi leader, John Barla ~ are likely to be unified ahead of the chief minister’s Nagrakata visit on 25 February. Things seem to have speeded up after Mr Tirkey announced felicitation of the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee. Mr Barla, terminated around two years ago for having raised the flag of revolt in his bid to get close to the GJMM, refused to comment. However, his close aides said they have started a dialogue with the mainstream ABAVP leadership after Mr Barla had written, expressing his willingness to come back to the mainstream.

One of Barla confidantes, Raju Bora, who had been instrumental in converting the rebel faction into the north Bengal unit of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and aligning with the GJMM, said: “We hope the felicitation podium for the chief minister would see both Mr Tirkey and Mr Barla together.” “The equations have drastically changed after the GJMM movement for Gorkhaland and GTA has fizzled out. The time is now ripe for closing ranks to show a unified face of the outfit. This would serve the interests of the Adivasi people in the Dooars,” he said, adding that the motive behind unification move is not political. He said his remaining connected to the JMM would not stand in the way of rejoining the ABAVP. “If Sukra Munda can remain in ABAVP despite having joined the TMC there is no reason why I cannot be in both organisations. We may field a candidate from Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat on behalf of the JMM in case its central committee nods approval,” he added.

Another Dooars-based mainstream ABAVP leader, Mr Rajesh Lakra, said: “John Barla has apologised. Things might be cleared up soon,” he added.