Ajoy Edward wants regional parties to unite for Gorkhaland demand

EOI CORRESPONDENT, DARJEELING, SEPTEMBER 5/: Former Darjeeling branch president of Gorkha National Liberation Front Ajoy Edward on Sunday was escorted to the hills by hundreds of supporters who reached Siliguri to welcome Edward. 

As soon as Edward had announced his decision to resign, a hoard of unit leaders and supporters followed suit, pledging their support to the rebel leader. The marked changed in Edward was visible, as he sported a red 'tika' (vermillion) and 'khadas' (traditional scarves), instead of the colour green synonymous with the GNLF. 

Edward brushed off rumours of him joining other political parties and said he would soon float a new party. 

"I was restricted in the GNLF. But now I can expand to other sub-divisions of the hills. In time I will float a party because it is the highest form of doing social work" he said. The rebel leader said regional parties should unite to take forward the issue of a separate statehood demand. 

"People continue to wait and waste their lives for the 'issue', with nothing to show by political parties. Unity is paramount. Gorkhaland demand is of the people and not of any political party," Edward said. 

Edward said he was not averse to contesting the election to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration evenwhile levelling corruption charges on present and past dispensations. 

"We have to be in 'satta' (power) to work for the people and their welfare in the correct way," he said. 

Darjeeling MLA and GNLF general secretary Niraj Zimba on Sunday questioning the status of rebel leader Ajoy Edward in the party, alleging the latter was never inducted in the party. 

Zimba’s allegation was levelled after Edward's decision to quit GNLF, alleging he had been betrayed and used by party president and childhood friend Mann Ghising. 

Talking to newspersons on Sunday after a central committee meeting in Darjeeling, Zimba said he would resign as MLA if proven otherwise. 

"He (Edward) is not a GNLF leader. He was never officially inducted in the party by our party president. Therefore, there is no reason to accept Edward's resignation. I will resign if Edward furnishes a letter of appointed to GNLF," the MLA said. Asked to react on Zimba's outburst, Edward said the former was not in touch with sentiments of the people. 

"Has he (Zimba) ever gone to remote villages and interacted with the people. He talks of political solution and not economical solution. He is out of tune with people's aspiration," he said. The GNLF central committee during the day appointed M.G.Subba as the Darjeeling branch president of the party.

Edward was the Darjeeling branch president till he quit the party a few days ago through an announcement made in a video message from Ladakh. 

Zimba is considered a hardcore follower of former president Subash Ghisingh and his ambition to climb the top tier of the party is no secret. Zimba won the Darjeeling assembly constituency on BJP ticket in 2021. Edward on the other hand is more popular as a businessman and a social worker, whose loyalty to his friend (Mann) comes above the party.

Zimba and Edward did not have the best of relation ever since the latter joined the party in 2007. Commenting on the possible outcome of Edward's resignation affecting the party, the GNLF general secretary said: "I have always said that he (Edward) lacks the quality of a political leader. He was never relevant to our party. His leaving will not affect our party at all," Zimba said.