Anit show of strength in Darj, Roka joins : first appearance in Darjeeling town today after becoming the acting president

SNS, DARJEELING, 25 JULY 21 : While the leader of a faction of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha, Anit Thapa, made his first appearance in Darjeeling town today after becoming the acting president of the group that he now leads, his faction got a shot in the arm with senior leader Tilak Chand Roka joining his party.

The rally and the events that welcomed Mr Thapa in the town is being seen by many as a show of strength, especially after the group's leader, Binoy Tamang, quit the party recently.

"We need to focus on tourism here, as most people are dependent on the sector. For that, peace and stability is needed and we will work towards that. I want to do practical politics and move forward with development of this area," said Mr Thapa at his party office at Judge Bazaar here, while also maintaining that he would stay in and work from Darjeeling for some days. Mr Thapa was escorted to Darjeeling town by a motorcycle rally right up to their office at Judge Bazaar where Mr Tamang used to frequent earlier. Political observers feel that the "show of strengths" today was also a message the faction wants to send to the state government that they enjoy the support of the people.

On the other hand, Mr Roka, who was once a leader of the Bimal Gurung camp of the Morcha and who had in January joined the BJP also joined the Morcha-2 today.

As he left the Morcha, Mr Roka had cited differences in political ideology.

"I had joined the BJP earlier as I had to send across a message, which I feel has been done, and now it is the BJP's responsibility to do what they have to. It is not compulsory that to get the PPS (permanent political solution) and tribal status for 11 communities, one has to remain in the BJP," Mr Roka said. "It is now our duty to work for issues in the tea gardens and cinchona plantation, along with things like unemployment, education and development. We will be the better ones to know these issues," he added.

According to Mr Roka, Morcha-2 had better results than Morcha-1 in the last elections, which, he said was the reason behind his choice.