TMC gets 'shot in the arm' after Binoy induction

MANAS R BANNERJEE, SNS, SILIGURI, 25 DECEMBER 21 : Ahead of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's visit to Darjeeling Hills on or before 23 January, the All India Trinamool Congess (AITC) seems to have got a shot in the arm, following the induction of former Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) leader Binoy Tamang and former Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma in the TMC. Political observers here said that the duo's move to join the AITC yesterday was very significant.

"Mr Tamang has always been managing escape routes for his party as well as the party's ally, Trinamul. Though GJMM president Bimal Gurung and his secretary Roshan Girl branded Mr Tamang a betrayer, when he joined hands with Mamata Banerjee, it was Binoy who led the movement and indirectly helped Bimal Gurung escape and gave relief to the Hill people during the 104-day bandh over the issue of recognition of Gorkhas' identity, by joining hands with Mamata Banerjee," an observer said.

"Since the then fugitive Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung was out of the Hills, Binoy Tamang was always with Mamata Banerjee and her party, instead of Cuffing, who was in the BJP camp over the identity issue, as the president of GJMM-2, when some Hill leaders, including Shanta Chhetri, joined the Trinamool Congress," the observer added.

Significantly Mr Tamang played a different role, handing over the GJMM Flag to its "rightful owner" Bimal Gurung after he returned to the Hills with the help of Mamata Banerjee and stayed away from politics and joined the TMC officially.

According to political observers, both Mr Gurung and Mr Giri, and others, met a series of state ministers (except CM Mamata Banerjee) in Kolkata recently on various issues for the Hills.

Interestingly, after joining the AITC, Mr Tamang is likely to share the dais with Miss Banerjee in New Year as a TMC leader and may be discuss the issue of a "Permanent Political Solution" by taking on the BJP in the Hills.

While sources said that Miss Banerjee ma y visit the Hills later in January, they added that there are chances that she might just not make her hill plans due to the civic elections proposed during that time.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Mr Tamang yesterday said, 'The BJP blackmailed the Hill people, showcasing the Gorkhaland issue as lollipop, and managed an MP seat in the last three terms."

Mr Tamang also did not hesitate to showcase Miss Banerjee as the Prime Ministerial candidate, keeping eye on the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

It may be noted here that Trinamool leader Moloy Ghatak today claimed that several leaders like Bimal Gurung, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, and Anit Thapa are with the Trinamool Congress.

"He is true that only Mamata Banerjee can manage political personalities, who were beyond control in the Hills. As former CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee could not come to Darjeeling to attend his party programme, Miss Banerjee has managed all of them by applying her own techniques after coming to power," said a political observer, who is also a government official.

"Hill politics based on statehood movement is no more in the Hills during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee. As the CM, Miss Banerjee, who brought the Hill situation under her control, is being appreciated by the common people in West Bengal and even other states," the observer added.

Reacting to Mr Tamang's decision to join Miss Banerjee's party, Darjeeling district CPIM secretary Saman Pathak said: "Regional parties in the Hills have lost their identity. Regional party leaders in the Hills who claimed to be fighters for the Gorkha people, have come under two camps. A group like the GNLF, CPRM and others belong to the BJP and other parties led by Bimal Gurung, Anit Thapa and others belong to Mamata Banerjee's party"

Interestingly, both Roshan Giri and Anit Thapa have extended their best wishes to Mr Tamang for the "third innings" in his political career.

BJP leader and Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, on the other hand, critical reacted to Mr Tamang's comment on the BJP "I wish both Binoy Tamang and Dr Rohit Sharma good luck, as they join the TMC. I hope they will use their presence in the TMC to restore democracy in the Hills," Mr Bista said, adding, "Mr Tamang should be the last person to accuse the BJP of anything, while he joins the TMC. It was the TMC government that killed 11 of our brothers and sisters in 2017. It was TMC that arrested thousands on fabricated charges. It is the TMC that has suspended the constitutional rights of our people and curtailed democracy in our region and also across West Bengal."