Gurung lobby names delegates... RB Bhujel included in both lists of Bimal and Binay

Anit Thapa addresses a public meeting at Tindharia on Sunday. Picture by Passang Yolmo

TT, Calcutta, Sept. 10: The Bimal Gurung faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha today announced a six-member delegation for the September 12 meeting with the state government, though it was not clear if the official wing of the party would be invited at all.

Binay Tamang, who had been "expelled" from the Morcha, claimed that the government had "verbally conveyed" to him regarding the meeting with the chief minister at Uttarkanya in Siliguri on Tuesday.

The Gurung lobby's announcement of names of leaders for the meeting is seen as an act of desperation as they fear of being left out if talks involving the Centre start on Gorkhaland.

"They probably also want to convey a message to the Centre and the hill population that they are ready for talks but it is the state government that is not cooperating. They also probably fear they will be left out if a tripartite meeting takes place and it would be detrimental to the official lobby," said an observer.

The day started with all three Morcha MLAs (who represent the Gurung lobby) writing to the government on the need to invite them to the September 12 talks as public representatives.

A few hours later, Binay Tamang - he had attended the last meeting in Calcutta on August 29 as the chief coordinator of the Morcha but has since been "expelled" from the hill party - claimed that the state government had "verbally conveyed" to him about the meeting. 

"I have been told that the meeting is a continuation of the previous one," added Tamang.

No senior Morcha leader bearing allegiance to Gurung could confirm such a communication to them.

However, Jyoti Kumar Rai, the assistant secretary of the Morcha who represents Gurung's lobby, issued a press release, naming a six-member delegation to the meeting.

The delegates are the three MLAs, Morcha's Kalimpong district president R.B. Bhujel, Kalimpong municipal chief Suva Pradhan and a central committee member of the party from the Dooars, Saugan Thapa.

Soon, Binay Tamang, too, announced his delegation that included Bhujel, too. Bhujel could not be immediately contacted for his comment.

The others delegates are Anit Thapa, L.M. Lama, Tshering Dahal and Karuna Gurung.

"No one is aware of what is happening within the Morcha. No one is sure who is with which leader. There is utter political confusion in the hills," said a lower level Morcha leader.

There are enough indications that the government is unlikely to entertain a group other than Binay's to represent the Morcha. A few other hill parties are also expected to attend the meeting.