Former top TMC Hill leader backs Gurung camp - Trinamul yet to choose from two Morcha factions

SNS,  DARJEELING.1APRIL 21 : Even as the Trinamul Congress (Hills) remains undecided about whom to support in the Assembly elections in the Hills, Rajen Mukhia. a senior TMC leader who had recently resigned from the party, extended support to the Bimal Gurung camp of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha today. Though both the factions of the Morcha are in an alliance with the TMC, they are fielding their own candidates for the elections.

Even though Mr Mukhia has resigned from the party, he does enjoy a certain clout among party supporters here.

"I had resigned from the party sometime back, and it is another thing that my resignation has not been accepted yet, but from my personal capacity I have decided to support the Bimal Gurung camp of the Morcha. I also appeal to the TMC (Hill) to do the same," said Mr Mukhia, adding that he will also start campaigning for them while also maintaining that some cadres are with him.

Giving reasons as to why he had taken such a decision, he said, "We were in an alliance with the Binoy Tamang camp of the Morcha in the past, but they did not give much attention to us and did not keep their part of the alliance, and therein no certainty that they will do so this time too."

In the 2019 general elections, along with the Darjeeling Assembly by-elections the Morcha's Tamang camp was in alliance with the TMC. It, however, lost to the BJP in both the elections. The Gurung camp was then in alliance with the BJP.

"The uncertainty within the TMC lifts as to which Morcha camp to support is not only being caused by both their alliance partners fielding candidates, but also with no specific directions coming front their higher-ups," a party source said.

As TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee announced the names of the election candidates, she had maintained that she was leaving the three hill Assembly seats for "friends," not specifying as to whom she was referring to.

When contacted, TMC (Hills) spokesperson NB Khawas said,"It is his (Mukhia) personal opinion and as far as our party goes, we are yet undecided as to whom we will support. It will be finalised in a day or two with discussions for it going on."