Kurseong leaders back Binay... Kalimpong GJM supports BOA of GTA

Binay Tamang and (left) Anit Thapa in Kurseong on Friday

Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, Oct. 6: All Gorkha Janmukti Morcha councillors of Kurseong municipality today promised support to Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa, providing a major boost to the rebel camp a day before the party celebrates its 11th foundation day.

Along with the 16 councillors, two former GTA Sabha members - Samuel Gurung and Kalpana Thapa - extended support to the rebel duo. The Kurseong municipality has 17 Morcha councillors and three from Trinamul. Krishna Limbu, the municipal chairman from the Morcha, is in judicial custody in connection with the violence during the agitation.

"These councillors had always been working with me. Today, when Binay Tamang came to Kurseong, they officially extended their support to us. In a few days, councillors in Darjeeling too will start supporting us," said Anit Thapa.

The development is a further blow to the Bimal Gurung lobby of the Morcha. Forced to go into hiding because of multiple cases slapped against him, Morcha chief Gurung is increasingly finding it difficult to retain his influence on the hill people.

Samuel Gurung addressing the press in Kalimpong on Friday (Photo:KalimNews)

"I feel our movement lost steam because of a weak leadership and some undemocratic and unilateral decisions. The GTA should have been used as a weapon to achieve Gorkhaland but this never happened despite repeated suggestions.... I, today, announce my decision to support my friends in the board of administration (of the GTA) with the hope that they will use it to achieve Gorkhaland," said Samuel Gurung, a senior Morcha leader from Kalimpong.

The boost to the Tamang camp came a day before both the lobbies of the Morcha plan to celebrate the party's 11th foundation day.

While Thapa will mark the event in Kurseong, Tamang will be at Darjeeling Motor Stand. The Gurung camp is unlikely to attend the celebration at Motor Stand.

Told about the development in Kurseong, Gurung said over the phone: "Leaders are being threatened. I don't know if these leaders even know what they are doing. A conspiracy to break our unity is being played out. I have nothing much to say but I will continue to fight for Gorkhaland."