Ghising heats up hill politics, announces support for Bhutia

IE,  Kolkata | April 5, 2014: Creating a new political equation in the hill politics, Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief Subash Ghising Friday declared support for Trinamool Congress candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency Baichung Bhutia.

In a statement, after a GNLF central committee meeting here, Ghising said he will support Bhutia who was a “son of the soil”. He also appealed to the central and the state governments to reject the GTA and restore the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC), which, he claimed, had not been dissolved. He also said he was against Gorkhaland and wants the sixth schedule status for the people of the hills.

The development comes just over two weeks after Ghising returned to Darjeeling on March 19 after five years of forced exile. Even though Ghising’s return to Darjeeling was not expected, he was well received by the TMC. Moreover, he has been provided with security guards near his residence. Meanwhile, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders claimed that Ghising has been brought back by the TMC to make a dent in the support base of the Morcha.

Ghising, who fielded candidates in three hill constituencies including Kurseong, Kalimpong and Darjeeling in 2011 Assembly election, could not make any strong impact.

After his return, Ghising has remained confined to his residence where he held series of meetings with GNLF members. All the major contenders in the hills including GJM chief Bimal Gurung, TMC, CPM and independent candidate M P Lama tried to woo Ghising to get his suppor

The TMC leaders are happy that Ghising has announced support for Bhutia. “We want to build an anti-GJM group here and we need him for that. We are happy that he did not disappoint us,” said Rajen Mukhiya, TMC district president. 

 North Bengal Development minister Gautam Deb said, “We will win in Darjeeling. And now we are sure that we will win by a margin of 3 lakh.” However, GJM leaders claimed that GNLF’s decision to ally with the TMC will not have any impact. 

“GNLF does not have any base here. He (Ghising) was ousted as he could not serve the people here. He has joined hands with TMC to destroy the dream and the aspiration of the people, that is Gorkhaland,” said GJM vice-president Benoy Tamang . 

 Senior CPM leader and former minister Ashok Bhattcharya said, “Ghising is an non entity now. We had sought an issue based alliance with parties including GNLF and CPRM. But I believe, there is no issue in this alliance of TMC and GNLF. It is an alliance of convenience and Ghising must have been compensated for this alliance.”