Entire Darjeeling town committee of GNLF resigns

EOI CORRESPONDENT ,  DARJEELING,  AUGUST 31: Defections are eroding the Gorkha National Liberation Front ever since the announcement of Ajoy Edward, the second in command of the party, that he would resign. 

On Tuesday, GNLF Darjeeling town committee president Robert Chhetri, general secretary Gopal Pariyar and spokesperson Udip Moktan along with all the 32 members of the committee announced their resignation from the party. 

"The term of our town committee ended on August 5. But a new committee could not be formed due to the absence of our branch president. Now that he (Edward) has announced his resignation, we feel it makes no sense to remain with the party," Chettri said. 

Edward was GNLF's Darjeeling branch president. The defectors pledged their support to Edward and assured to work for the people in a new scenario. 

"We joined the GNLF because of Edward and the social work he was doing. Henceforth, we will follow and support him, even if it means joining the political party that he is expected to float," Chettri said. 

Speaking on similar lines, Pariyar said he felt insecure in the party given the turn of events that occurred in the past week. "I joined the party because of Subash Ghisingh and his vision. However, the conspiracy that was hatched by Mann Ghisingh to oust a person like Edward cannot be overlooked," he said. 

Pariyar said after the Edward incident it would be difficult for other leaders of the party to have faith on the leadership. 

"If a leader of the stature of Edward can be treated this way, then imagine what can happen to others. I find it difficult, but it is true that under our existing president nothing will be achieved for the people of hills, Terai and Dooars," he said. 

Edward has blamed Ghisingh of conniving with other party functionaries to have him removed from the party. In fact, Edward has said that Ghisingh, his childhood friend, had used and betrayed him for political gains.