Gurung end 3 year hiding : breaks alliance with BJP; Backs Trinamul

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did for us what she promised, but the BJP did not. As such, I want to announce today that I want to end the partnership with the BJP and give a befitting reply to the BJP by joining hands with Miss Mamata Banerjee for the 2021Assembly elections

SNS, SILIGURI. 21 OCTOBER 2020 : In an interesting turn of events in Darjeeling Hill politics, fugitive leader of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha Bimal Gurung today threw his weight behind Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said his party will now work with theTrinamul Congress for next year's Assembly elections in the state.

On the run since the 2017 agitation for a separate state of Gorkhaland, Mr Gurung appeared in Kolkata and interacted with media persons this evening. The state government has slapped on him several police cases, including those under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for alleged anti-national activities.

Heaping praises on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and criticising his ally, the BJP. Mr Gurung said: "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did for us what she promised, but the BJP did not. As such, I want to announce today that I want to end the partnership with the BJP and give a befitting reply to the BJP by joining hands with Miss Mamata Banerjee for the 2021Assembly elections... We want to see her back at the helm in the state in 2021." According to him, the BJP-led central government failed to keep its promises that included a 'permanent political solution' (PPS) for the Hill demand and granting of Scheduled Tribe status to 11 Gorkha communities.

Reliable sources later said that another Morcha leader Roshan Giri discussed the matter with Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata before Mr Gurung's decision to address the media this evening.

"I am not a criminal, I am not anti-national, I am a political leader and I fought for our community, fought for society, and I want political solutions," Mr Gurung said, when asked about the pending court cases against him.

Asked how he would work with the other faction of the Morcha led by Binay Tamang, he said that the same will be clear in the coming days.

He further said that he was in Delhi all this while, while he was in Jharkhand for two months in the recent past.

He added that his party will support a party that will take ahead the Morcha's issue of Gorkhaland in the 2024 general elections.