Former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Harka Bahadur Chhetri on Sunday declared that he was going to form a new party to be headquartered at Kalimpong.
The declaration of Chhetri, a former GJM MlA and a close associate of Bimal Gurung, is seen as a political victory for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who last week declared the formation of a new district in Kalimpong by breaking Darjeeling.
With the GJM backing the BJP in parliamentary elections, the breaking up of the Hill party is likely to give huge political advantage to Banerjee’s ruling Trinamool Congress. GJM is currently at loggerheads with the Trinamool Congress.
Chhetri on Sunday came down heavily on GJM chief Gurung saying “he has never fulfilled his promises neither has he taken his plans to logical conclusion. The movement for Gorkhaland or even the one call for a 100-day walk to Delhi is a case in point,” he said.
On the contrary he praised the Chief Minister for “keeping her words” but never demanding anything in return. “She has announced a number of development projects, making Kalimpong a district
being one but never demanded anything in return. She never asked me to join Trinamool Congress.”
On his forming the new party he said “there is pressure from below to form a new party. let us see what happens.” When asked as to whether he would ally with the Trinamool in the elections he said “it is not decided as yet. let the party come into being first then we will decide.”
Chhetri’s new outfit is likely to put Banerjee in advantage against BJP in Darjeeling, locals say.