Morcha split is TMC gain

TT, Siliguri, Sept. 5: Till a week ago, the Trinamul Congress had been finding it difficult to make its presence felt in the Darjeeling hills. Now, the party is tilting the scales, cashing in on the split in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

The Bengal ruling party had been hit by a spate of defections and many leaders chose to move to the plains in the middle of the strike, which saw a series of attacks on the houses of party councillors.

"Following the resumption of the statehood movement, it was a tough situation for us in the hills. Many supporters and leaders of our party either descended down to Siliguri or joined other parties or at least, left Trinamul because there was immense pressure from the Morcha. We could not carry out any political activity for around two-and-a-half months," said a Trinamul leader based in Mirik.

The situation turned in favour of Trinamul after the Morcha split into two lobbies, which followed a decision by party leader Binay Tamang to relax the strike till September 12.

While one group chose to back Tamang, the other, owing allegiance to Bimal Gurung, stressed that the strike would continue.

Tamang was eventually expelled from the Morcha, a decision he protested in a letter to the Centre.

"People in the hills want the strike to be withdrawn, as was evident in Panighata yesterday and in Mirik today. In both the places, we had held rallies and appealed to the people for peace. They have responded. We believe that if similar initiatives are taken in other parts of the hills, people there will also respond too," said Rajen Mukhia, the president of the Darjeeling district (hills) Trinamul.

Political analysts pointed out that it was easier for Trinamul to regain mass support in Panighata and Mirik, where the party controls the civic body.

While the Morcha leaders are bickering against each other, the other hill parties have shifted the onus for lifting to strike on the Morcha and have remained silent.

"Forget the state, even the Centre do not have any plan for Gorkhaland. People have started realising that. We are planning to take up campaign in an extensive manner and tell the people that they are consistently losing their earnings and their families are suffering," a hill Trinamul leader said.

Trinamul leaders said they would meet stakeholders of other sectors.

"We plan to meet tea workers and their families. They are one of the worst-affected lots and not getting their wages for the past three months. The festive season is ahead and there hasn't been any settlement on their bonus so far," the leader said.