Gorkhaland Issue: From Historical Agitations to Current Negotiations – A Closer Look at the Role of Interlocutors and Political Evolution in Darjeeling

KalimNews, October 17, 2025 : The recent appointment of Pankaj Kumar Singh as the Government of India’s interlocutor to mediate the Gorkha community’s long-standing demands for greater autonomy has brought renewed focus on the Gorkhaland issue. With the 2026 West Bengal legislative elections fast approaching, Singh’s appointment has sparked a mix of hope and skepticism across the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars. His role as a mediator follows a long history of similar efforts by both the central and state governments to resolve the political struggles of the Gorkha community—efforts that have often been met with varying degrees of success and criticism.

Pankaj Kumar Singh, a 1988-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, is a senior law enforcement figure with extensive experience. He previously served as the Director General (DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF) and was later appointed as the Deputy National Security Advisor of India in January 2023. Singh's background in national security and law enforcement is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the sensitive and complex issues surrounding the Gorkhaland agitation.

Historically, the Gorkhaland movement has seen many significant phases of unrest, with the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland—comprising Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and parts of the Terai-Dooars region—remaining a core issue for decades. One of the most significant periods of unrest occurred during the late 1980s when Subhas Ghising led the Gorkhaland agitation. Widespread protests, violence, and a sense of political disenfranchisement among the Gorkha community made it one of the most pressing issues in West Bengal.

During this period, journalist Indrajit Khullar played a pivotal role as an interlocutor, mediating between the central government, state authorities, and the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) led by Ghising. Khullar's mediation efforts resulted in the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) in 1988, a semi-autonomous body intended to address the region’s political and administrative concerns. His role as a mediator earned him the Congress ticket for the Darjeeling parliamentary seat, which he won in the 1989 and 1991 Lok Sabha elections, with support from the GNLF. Khullar’s tenure in Parliament marked a significant moment in Darjeeling's political history, as it symbolized a growing presence of the Gorkha community in national politics.

The political dynamics in Darjeeling continued to evolve, with MPs from various political parties contesting the parliamentary seat. Jaswant Singh of the BJP secured the seat in 2009, and in 2014, S.S. Ahluwalia, also of the BJP, was elected. In 2019 and 2024, Raju Bista, from BJP's Manipur unit, was given the ticket, further consolidating the BJP’s influence in the region. Despite these shifts, the core demand for a separate Gorkhaland state has remained largely unaddressed.

In 2009, after renewed unrest in the hills, the Government of India appointed Lieutenant General (retd) Vijay Madan as an interlocutor to mediate the Gorkhaland issue. His appointment followed a third tripartite meeting between the central government, the state of West Bengal, and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). Madan's mission was to engage with all stakeholders to seek a lasting solution. However, despite several meetings, the dialogue stagnated, and in 2011, Madan resigned, citing the lack of significant progress. His resignation was seen as another setback in the peace process, reinforcing doubts about the central government's commitment to resolving the issue.

In light of these challenges, Pankaj Kumar Singh’s recent appointment as interlocutor represents another critical moment in the Gorkhaland negotiations. Singh, with his distinguished career in law enforcement, including his tenure as BSF Director General and Deputy National Security Advisor, brings a wealth of experience in managing complex security and political issues. He will engage with various Gorkha organizations to address their demands, which include the creation of a separate Gorkhaland state, as well as demands for the inclusion of 11 tribal communities under the Scheduled Tribes category.

The central government's decision to appoint Singh has been cautiously welcomed by political leaders in the region. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista expressed his appreciation for the government's initiative, stating, "This is the first time the central government has appointed a representative to engage directly with the Gorkha community. We hope this will accelerate the process and lead to meaningful progress."

Similarly, Bimal Gurung, president of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), welcomed Singh's appointment as a step in the right direction. "We have long sought intervention from the central government, and now that an interlocutor has been appointed, we hope our demands will be addressed with urgency," Gurung said.

However, not all political factions in Darjeeling share this optimism. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which holds power in West Bengal, and Anit Thapa's Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) have criticized the timing of Singh’s appointment, accusing the central government of using it as a political tactic ahead of the 2026 elections. Thapa remarked, "After years of delay, the central government has appointed an interlocutor just before the elections. If concrete action follows, we will welcome it, but we have little hope," reflecting a sense of skepticism regarding the government’s intentions.

The controversy over the role of interlocutors is not new to the region. The Gorkhaland movement has seen multiple rounds of negotiations over the years, each marked by the appointment of different interlocutors. These efforts have ranged from Khullar’s role in the 1980s to Vijay Madan’s appointment in 2009. However, despite these interventions, the core issue of Gorkhaland remains unresolved, with many local leaders questioning the efficacy of the interlocutor's role.

As political analysts observe and opine that the role of an interlocutor is not to re-examine the issue but to mediate among diverse stakeholders with competing interests. In a democracy, dialogue is essential, and the interlocutor helps facilitate that dialogue to create a broad-based and sustainable resolution.”

Despite the mixed reactions to Singh’s appointment, many in the Darjeeling Hills see it as an opportunity for constructive engagement. Whether this new initiative leads to a lasting solution to the Gorkhaland issue remains uncertain. However, Pankaj Kumar Singh’s appointment marks another significant moment in the long history of political struggle in Darjeeling. As the region continues to grapple with its political future, Singh’s role as an interlocutor could either pave the way for a peaceful resolution or become yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of Gorkhaland.