Announcement of a new political party in favor of Gorkhaland in the Darjeeling hills

A new political party Bharatiya Gorkha Janshakti Morcha (IGJF) was formed in the Darjeeling Hills on Sunday (22 December 2024) with the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state as its main agenda. Ajay Edwards, a prominent leader of Darjeeling hills, has merged his party into IGJF and has been appointed as the coordinator of the new political party. dress

The development assumes significance as the politics of the Darjeeling hills has been centered on the issue of Gorkhaland for the past few decades.

Leaders of a new political outfit have realized that there is a political vacuum in the Darjeeling hills and could challenge the Anit Thapa-led Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM). The BGPM, which administers the regional autonomous Gorkhaland regional administration, is considered close to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

After announcing the launch of the party, Mr. Edwards suggested that the new organization would remain equidistant from both the state and the Centre. While the BGPM, backed by the Trinamool Congress, administers the GTA, the Darjeeling hills have been electing BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha for the past two decades.

The IGJF has attracted prominent names from the hills like former IPS officer Norbu Chhiring and leaders like Pradeep Pradhan, Prakash Gurung, Yogendra Rai and NB Khawash.

Anit Thapa said that it is an issue of Gorkhaland community

A day after the launch, BGPM leader and GTA president Anit Thapa said it is an old idea that any party that raises the Gorkhaland issue thrives.

“Gorkhaland is not an issue of any one party. Gorkhaland is the demand of the Gorkha community. If a political party makes Gorkhaland an issue, it does not mean they will get Gorkhaland,’ said Thapa on Monday (December 23, 2024).

Referring to Mr. Edwards, the GTA President said that it is unusual for a leader to start a new party in the Darjeeling hills again and again and he wished all the best for the idea of ​​starting a party.

Mr. Edwards founded our party three years ago and soon after its formation, the party won the Darjeeling municipal elections but lost control of the board due to defection to the BGPM.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), founded by Bimal Gurung, was the dominant political force in the hill region until a few years ago. The party held a 100-day protest in the hills in 2017 regarding the demand for Gorkhaland. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, GJM defeated BJP candidate Raju Bista, who won the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat for the second time in a row.