Internal differences appear to have cropped up within the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) over the way in which MLA Neeraj Zimba is dealing with its ally, the BJP.

Sources told The Telegraph that there was a heated exchange between GNLF vice-president P.C. Agarwal and Darjeeling MLA and GNLF secretary general Zimba on the issue during the party's central committee meeting on March 29.

A source present at the meeting told this newspaper that Agarwal even demanded that Zimba step down from the post of the party secretary general.

"Agarwal and a section are unhappy that Zimba is trying to promote the BJP at the party's (the GNLF's) expense. The issue, e, simmering for about a year, came out in the open during the central committee meeting,” said a source.

The GNLF has been an ally of the BJP since 2019.

The insider said that Zimba and Agarwal stood up from their seats to counter each other. “After a while Zimba left the room saying ‘high pressure, high pressure’ and did not return,” said the source.

Although GNLF president Mann Ghisingh was present, he did not intervene, the source said.

Apparently, Agarwal was hurt after Zimba allegedly posted a voice message in a party group a year back.

“The friction had started when Agarwal and a senior GNLF leader from Kurseong organised a meeting to stop some GNLF cadres from joining another party,” said a source “But Zimba’s message on the lines ‘who is PC Agarwal’ had hurt Agarwal.”

Agarwal, 89, a former chairman of Kurseong municipality, had been close to GNLF founder Subash Ghisingh.

Zimba’s recent decision to hobnob with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections has also not gone down well with many in the GNLF, an insider said.

"Our leader Subash Ghisingh had to leave the hills because of Gurung (in 2008). We too had to leave (the hills). The body of Ghisingh’s wife was stopped from being brought to the hills by Gurung and his men. Now Zimba is hobnobbing with that party,” said a GNLF leader.

Zimba had won the Darjeeling MLA seat on a BJP ticket.

Contacted, Zimba denied any altercation during the central committee meeting.

“People can always have a difference in opinion. P.C. Agarwal can have a different opinion. It is just that,” said Zimba.

When told that many in his party were currently unhappy with his dealings with the BJP, Zimba said: “The decision to field me on a BJP symbol had been taken by the central committee of the party. My dealings with the BJP have benefitted the party and made it stronger."

Veteran GNLF leader Agarwal refused to talk on the issue.