Gorkha Leader Bimal Gurung to Cut Ties With NDA, TMC Welcomes Move

The GJM leader has been on the run since 2017 after the Darjeeling unrest.

(Photo: PTI)

Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung, who was absconding since 2017 following an agitation, addressed a press conference on Wednesday, 21 October, announcing that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is breaking away from the NDA ahead of the 2021 state elections and will extend support to the ruling TMC in West Bengal.

“Not moving away from Gorkhaland demand. Will support party which takes forward the demand,” Gurung said.

“Centre didn’t meet the commitment they made but Mamata Banerjee fulfilled all promises she made. So, I would like to separate myself from NDA, I would like to break our relation with the BJP. In 2021 Bengal election, we’ll forge an alliance with TMC and give a reply to the BJP.”

Bimal Gurung, GJM Leader

The leader was spotted in Kolkata on Wednesday, reported PTI.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) welcomed Gurung’s decision to withdraw its support to the NDA while reposing faith in Mamata Banerjee.

“We welcome Bimal Gurung’s commitment to peace and decision to withdraw support from NDA while reposing faith in Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. BJP's attempts to use Gorkhaland issue for petty politics and their untrustworthy nature now lay fully exposed before people of Bengal,” the party said on Twitter on Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening, he was spotted near Gorkha Bhavan in Salt Lake area but the authorities did not let him in. However, the police at the spot did not arrest Gurung who has been charged with more than 150 cases, including those under UAPA.

When asked if state government gave him assurance regarding cases against him, Gurung told reporters, as quoted by ANI, “I'm neither a criminal nor an anti-national. I'm a political leader. I want a political settlement. I was in Delhi earlier and in Jharkhand for past two months.”