Bimal camp exodus sign

Darjeeling: A rising tide of disillusioned Bimal Gurung supporters seems to be bursting through the floodgates.

A day after Binita Roka, a close associate of the former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha chief during last year's Gorkhaland agitation likened Gurung to mercurial Delhi Sultan Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, another of his confidants said Gurung had led a movement devoid of "strategy and planning".

"Bimal Gurung led an agitation which only let to lot of poor people getting jailed, a not-so-educated leader doomed the community.... Binay Tamang and Anit Thapa drank poison to save our community. We would like to thank the two," Barod Thapa, a former president of Morcha youth wing Yuwa Morcha from Kalimpong, said. The reference was to current party chief Tamang and his confidant Anit.

Barod was reported to have earlier extended support to the Binay-Anit camp but this was the first time he did so publicly. Later on Wednesday, Barod was made vice-president of the Yuwa Morcha's central committee.

Amrit Yonzone, president of the Yuwa Morcha, said: "Barod Thapa, former president of the Yuwa Morcha of Kalimpong, has now been made the vice-president of the Yuwa Morcha's central committee...We are hopeful he will work for the community and the party in the right direction."

Barod expressed his gratitude and said: "A responsibility has been given to me and I will full this responsibility."

Observers believe Gurung's supporters had pinned their hopes on a favourable Supreme Court order but seem disillusioned after that did not happen and are, therefore, making a beeline to join the Binay-Anit faction.

The apex court recently rejected Gurung's plea for an investigation of all cases filed against him and his supporters by an "independent agencies" and turned down Gurung's allegation of bias against the Bengal government.

"After the Supreme Court order, it is almost curtains for Gurung politically. Gurung's biggest ally, the BJP has already lost all support in the hills," said an observer.

The Telegraph