Amar Lama, a veteran in hill politics, along with established names in literature, music, sports and administration, will join Anit Thapa’s new party during its launch in Darjeeling on Thursday.

Sources said Lama would also be given “an important position” in the new party.

Lama, 58, plunged into politics during his college days with Pranta Parishad and was the general secretary of the Akhil Bhartiya Gorkha League from 1996 to 2000.

When Bimal Gurung formed the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in 2007, Lama was among the top three leaders of the party, who led many important delegations both to the state government and the Centre.

The lawyer by profession, however, quit the party when his elder brother Madan Tamang, who was then the president of the ABGL, was hacked to death in broad daylight in 2010 allegedly by Morcha supporters.

Since 2016, Lama has been a bureau member of the Jan Andolan Party, which was floated by former Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri.

Sources told The Telegraph that Lama had “verbally” quit the JAP on Monday. “Some JAP members insisted that he stay with the party. But Lama, who had been approached by Thapa, told JAP leaders that he had made up his mind,” a source said.

While Lama will be the most prominent political leader to join Thapa’s party, the major surprise would be the induction of apolitical faces who have made a name in their respective fields.
“It is an interesting development. Many apolitical people have decided to plunge into fulltime politics,” said the source.

Among them is a lead actor of a popular political satire which had made waves across the Darjeeling hills in the past decade. “The actor is of the opinion that instead of satires, he needs to plunge into fulltime politics for the betterment of the place,” said the source.

A leading musician and composer from Darjeeling will be joining the drama persons.

“A retired bureaucrat, a retired high school teacher who is also into literature, a historian and a sports person, along with many people who have excelled in their professions but never indulged in fulltime politics, will be the surprises,” said the source.

Sources said the new party was trying an “image makeover” from the previous party.

In 2017, a new faction of the Morcha was formed. Most of the leaders of the breakaway faction are forming a new party on Thursday.

“That is why the new party wants an image makeover,” said the source. Most of the breakaway faction leaders were accused of betraying the 2017 statehood agitation.

While Thapa will be launching a new party, Bimal Gurung’s supporters have decided to organise a “flag purification ceremony” in Kurseong. The launch of the new party will be beamed live on giant screens in at least 40 locations across the hills.