Darjeeling Municipality floor test today as Bimal Gurung, Ajoy Edwards, Binoy Tamang join hands on Gorkhalnd

EOI, DARJEELING, DECEMBER 27, 2022: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the Hamro Party have decided to come under the banner of Gorkha Swabhiman Sanghursh to work towards restoration of democracy in the Darjeeling hills and carry forward the struggle for a separate Gorkhaland state.

Trinamool Congress leader from Darjeeling, Binoy Tamang has extended support to the GJM and the HP. The GSS was formed a few days ago by HP president Ajoy Edwards after councilors of Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha in the Darjeeling Municipality had decided to move a no-confidence motion against chairman of the civic body Ritesh Portel and sought a floor test. 

The Darjeeling civic body is presently run by the HP. Following the recent move by six of its councillors to join the BGPM, however, the HP now has 15 councillors in the municipal body. BGPM too has 15 seats, but Anit Thapa enjoys the support of one Trinamool Congress councillor. 

The effective strength of the municipality is now 31 seats, with one seat lying vacant. The floor test is scheduled on Wednesday and the district administration has already clamped a prohibitory order from 6 am the same day. 

The Capitol Hall where the GSS is holding its month-long protest activity is located inside the Darjeeling Municipality premises.

Edwards said on Tuesday he would continue with the GSS programme despite the floor test. “We have booked the Capitol Hall for our programme a month ago and have also paid due charges. We will go ahead with the GSS programme. The police will have to drag and arrest us. I am willing to go to jail,” he said. 

In fact, the HP president said he would lodge himself inside the Capitol Hall from Tuesday night along with his supporters and other activists. After a seminar on Gorkhaland in Delhi on December 11 and 12 organized by the GJM, this is the second occasion when GJM president Bimal Gurung, HP president Ajoy Edwards and Trinamool leader from the hills Binoy Tamang have shared the same platform.

The GJM president on Tuesday termed the attempt by the BGPM to take over the civic body as illegal and unjustified.

“The HP is running the municipality well. People have voted for them. I accept that people did not vote for me or for the BGPM. It is shameful that BGPM president Anit Thapa is buying councillors to topple the HP-ruled municipal board. 

We cannot allow this low politics and must protest,” said Gurung. Tamang on the other hand said he would resign from the Trinamool if he was asked by the party high command in Kolkata to extend support either to the BGPM or to the HP during the floor test. 

“I have already informed my party high command that it will be difficult to remain with the party if we are asked to extend support. I want to remain neutral in this issue,” the Trinamool Congress leader said.

On the issue of joining hands with the HP and GJM under the banner of GSS, the Trinamool leader asserted it was important to safeguard the prestige and interest of the Gorkha community and to restore democracy. 

“Whenever my community needs me I will come forward. I do not wish to destabilize the peace of the hills, but I am willing to take a stand for justice,” said Tamang. 

BGPM spokesperson, Keshavraj Pokhrel said the coming together of Gurung, Edwards and Tamang would spell trouble for the hills.

“Destructive mindsets are grouping up. This is dangerous for the hills. The BGPM struggled to restore peace and democracy in the region. Two elections were held and all those parties now shouting had also participated. It’s laughable that now the very same people are talking about restoring democracy,” he said. 

Pokhrel also said the no-confidence motion and the motion for floor test were moved as per the provision of the Municipality Act. “The HP councilors were not happy with their party leadership and vision. To join a different party is democratic and constitutional and these kinds of thing happen in the politics of our country, ”he said