Facing defections, Ajoy Edwards falls back on Gorkhaland

EOI  |  DARJEELING   |  NOV 27, 2022:  On the first foundation day of his party on Sunday, Hamro Party president Ajoy Edwards raked up the demand for a separate state and urged like-minded political parties to unite to take forward the aspiration of the hills. Edwards has been rattled by defections. 

Political observers viewed the invocation of the Gorkhaland demand on the party's foundation day as a means to drum up support. 

"Since the formation of his party a year ago, he (Edwards) has never been so vocal about the separate state demand as today. Rekindling the statehood demand smacks of efforts to  synergize supporters and party leaders," said an observer in the hills not wishing to be named. 

The HP was floated by Edwards on November 25, 2021, after severing ties with the Gorkha National Liberation Front. A few days ago, two party Sabhasads, including the vice president of HP, defected to the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha, followed by the defection of five councilors of Darjeeling Municipality a few days ago. 

The HP is the main opposition to the BGPM in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. With five of its councillors crossing over, there is fear of the HP losing majority in the Darjeeling Municipality. Speaking at an impressive gathering at the Motor Stand in Darjeeling town on Sunday, the HP president appealed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Gorkha National Liberation Front to join hands for the demand for a separate statehood. 

"Undemocratic forces are trying to suppress the voice of democracy and the aspiration of the people. Under such circumstances, I want Bimal Gurung, Mann Ghisingh and Binay Tamang to unite with us and work for Gorkhaland," said Edwards.

Apparently, Bimal Gurung is presently drumming up support for Gorkhaland across the country, holding seminars. Ghisingh on the other hand is hobnobbing with the BJP and is a childhood friend of Edwards; while Tamang who was earlier with the GJM is now a Trinamool Congress leader.

"Our party was born for the creation of a separate state. We are committed to achieving our demand constitutionally and in a peaceful way. I am willing to sacrifice myself for Gorkhaland,"said Edwards. 

The HP leader kept a major part of his speech devoted to lambasting BGPM president Anit Thapa who, he said, was working as an agent for the West Bengal government. 

"We achieved a lot within a year and have people's mandate. Thapa is afraid and thus is poaching our simple sabhasads and councilors, luring them with monetary gains," said Edwards. Edwards alleged the involvement of the State Government with the BGPM could destabilize the hills. 

"Peace and stability is returning to the hills after decades. However, Thapa is working on the behest and interest of Bengal. The State Government should not promote and encourage the BGPM's undemocratic ways," he said. 

In a passing reference before ending his speech, the HP president touched on the issue of focusing attention on finding a permanent political solution for the hills and the creation of a Union Territory.