GNLF pressure on councillors

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 28 May 2019, Darjeeling: The GNLF on Monday appealed to councillors of four municipalities in the hills to detach themselves from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's Binay camp 

The move, observers, believe is an attempt to corner the Binay Tamang-Anit Thapa camp as any defection even in one municipality could have a major impact on hill politics 

Ajoy Edwards, a steering committee member of the GNLF, told a media conference in Darjeeling: "During the recent elections, they (Binay camp) lost almost all wards in Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik. If the councillors have any self-respect and if they want to honour the people's mandate, then they should either remain independent or join another party or resign from their posts

The GNLF said it would continue the alliance with the BJP-Morcha (Bimal camp) and other hill political parties in all other future elections until a permanent political solution is arrived at "Even if election to GTA is held, we will jointly contest but on winning the elections we will tender our resignation the very next day to show that the aspiration of the hill people is not GTA," said Edwards 

The GNLF is saying it wants a permanent political solution "which is not less that Sixth Schedule status" for the region. 

"Once a permanent solution is arrived at, we (parties) will go our own way"They (Binay camp) are saying they still are the largest party in the hills but in the Assembly polls, they could win in only 23 booths (there were 321 booths in the Darjeeling assembly seat). We are an alliance of three-four parties and they too were in alliance with the TMC," said Edwards 

The GNLF which has now started consolidating its support base in the hills also demanded that the tea garden workers should immediately be paid wages for the 104-day strike period, as promised by Binay Tamang camp 

"They (rivals) are saying that political permanent solution should be Gorkhaland. We too appeal to Binay daju that he should also tell their alliance party, TMC, that a permanent solution can only be Gorkhaland," said Edwards.