Former GNLF Leaders Form GNLF (Subhashwadi) to Demand Sixth Schedule for Darjeeling

KalimNews, Darjeeling, December 29, 2025: The political landscape of Darjeeling witnessed the emergence of a new political party on Monday, formed by former leaders of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF). The newly floated outfit, named the Gorkha National Liberation Front (Subashwadi), aims to continue the demand for the inclusion of the Darjeeling Hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

The formation of the party comes on the heels of the Election Commission of India (ECI) delisting the GNLF from the list of recognised political parties for failing to independently participate in elections. This move, along with the growing sense that the legacy of Subash Ghisingh, the founder of the GNLF, was gradually fading from the public consciousness, led to the re-establishment of the party under the leadership of Bhanu Lama, a prominent GNLF veteran. Former GNLF leader K.N.Subba introduced Bhanu Lama as the Convenor of the newly formed party, GNLF(S).

The new party has explicitly stated its commitment to the cause of Mero Jati, Mero Mato ("My Community, My Land") — a slogan symbolising the protection of the Gorkha community's identity and territorial rights in the Darjeeling Hills. Bhanu Lama, in his address, stated, "When the GNLF was ousted from the hills and a new party took power in 2007, we did not join any of the new parties. We remained steadfast in our commitment to the Sixth Schedule demand raised by the late Subash Ghising. We waited for a positive change, but nothing substantial occurred. No new capable leader emerged, and nothing positive happened. Therefore, we formed the People's Forum, an apolitical organisation, one and a half years ago, to work for our cause. But now, with the GNLF being delisted, and with the name of Subash Ghising slowly fading, we have decided to relaunch our cause as a political party to keep his legacy alive.”

Lama, who served as a councillor in the former Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, sharply criticised the lack of vision and direction among the current political leadership in the hills. He stated that many political leaders, including those within the GNLF, had failed to deliver on the promise of securing the hills' rights and status. "After 2007, several political parties emerged in the hills. We gave these parties an opportunity to do something for our community, to bring the leadership we so desperately needed. Unfortunately, that has not happened. Even under new leadership, the GNLF has failed," Lama lamented.

The new party's founding comes after a series of political shifts in the region. In 2007, following the statehood movement led by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) under Bimal Gurung, the GNLF, including Ghisingh, was forced out of the hills. Ghisingh, who had previously led violent agitations in the 1980s demanding a separate state of Gorkhaland, eventually passed away in a rented house in Jalpaiguri.

In 2019, Ghisingh’s son, Mann, took over the reins of the GNLF, attempting to revive the party and re-establish its political presence. In the same year, the GNLF under Mann extended support to the BJP in the national elections after the GJM severed ties with the BJP following the violent aftermath of the 2017 agitation. However, despite these efforts, the GNLF struggled to maintain relevance in the changing political environment.

Bhanu Lama's decision to form the GNLF(S) was driven, in part, by the shock of the party's recent delisting by the Election Commission. "We were in shock. It was hard to accept that a party with such a rich history and led by Subash Ghisingh, who dedicated his life to the people, had been delisted. The honour and identity of the green flag and the khukuri, symbols of our struggle, were being questioned," Lama said, referring to the GNLF's iconic symbols.

A few years ago, Lama had been part of the People’s Forum, an initiative to address the social issues facing the Gorkha community, particularly the need for recognition under the Sixth Schedule. "We started a campaign to raise awareness about the Sixth Schedule issue. The response from the people was overwhelmingly positive. But over time, many urged us to take the next step and form a political party to push the Sixth Schedule demand forward. After discussions and deliberations, we decided to form this new party," Lama explained.

The newly formed GNLF(S) has explicitly stated that it will not contest elections in the immediate future. Instead, its focus will be on pressing the Indian government for the Sixth Schedule status, bypassing the West Bengal government’s political influence. Lama stressed, "Our focus is not on the West Bengal government. We have given numerous MLAs to the state, but nothing has changed. Our focus will now be on New Delhi, where our demands for the Sixth Schedule will be heard. We need to rise above local politics and work for the broader welfare of our people."

The demand for the Sixth Schedule status is not new. Subash Ghisingh had raised the issue in the past, and with the support of the then UPA government, managed to get a Bill placed in Parliament. However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) raised concerns that the implementation of the Sixth Schedule would divide the hill communities, thus upstaging the GNLF and eventually leading to a political alliance between the GJM and the BJP. This alliance saw the BJP opposing the passage of the Sixth Schedule Bill, which was ultimately shelved.

In the upcoming months, the GNLF(S) will outline its future course of action, including unveiling its flag and detailed agenda at a public rally scheduled for January 16, 2026, at Sumeru Manch in Darjeeling. The party remains committed to ensuring that the Gorkha community's rights and land are protected, with Lama concluding, "If we do not secure the Sixth Schedule, we will not be able to protect our community and our land."