Cracks have developed between Gorkha National Liberation Front president Mann Ghisingh and senior leader Ajoy Edwards at a time the political landscape of the hills is undergoing a rapid change because of recent developments in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

A source aware of the developments in the GNLF said the fissures between the two childhood friends seemed to be “irreparable”.

“Edwards and Ghisingh are childhood friends and there can be differences between leaders in the party. But unless something drastic happens, the differences seem irreparable this time,” said the source.

Edwards is one of the most popular GNLF leaders at the moment, while Mann, who is the son of the party’s founder president, Subash Ghisingh, is seen as the uniting force within the GNLF.

Given Edward’s popularity, many in the hills wanted him to contest from the Darjeeling Assembly seat. But the GNLF allowed Neeraj Zimba to contest the election on a BJP ticket.

Ajoy Edwards. File photo

After initial dissent, Edwards decided to heed Mann’s decision in the overall interest of the party.

“If I had contested and won, how could I see a pall of gloom descend on my president Mann’s house,” Edwards had then said.

“That episode had been forgotten by Edwards. Everything was fine till even a few weeks back,” the source said.

In fact, Edwards had left for New Delhi a few weeks ago to hold meetings with various stakeholders to take forward the “permanent political solution” (PPS) issue.

On August 6, a delegation led by Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista called on Union home minister Amit Shah and announced that the Centre would soon hold an official level tripartite talks on PPS.

The delegation included Mann Ghisingh, former Darjeeling MP and Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists president R.B. Rai, BJP MLAs from Darjeeling and Kurseong Neeraj Zimba and B.P. Bajgain, respectively, and BJP hill president Kalyan Dewan.

Edwards, despite being in Delhi, was not part of the delegation. Edwards is presently the president of the GNLF’s Darjeeling branch committee but many acknowledge that his contribution and role in the party was much bigger than the post he holds.

A few days ago, Mann decided to appoint Zimba as the secretary-general of the GNLF. The party also decided to appoint vice-presidents. There was no change in Edwards designation. The new appointments ignited sparks of Edwards being sidelined in the party among a section in the hills. Edwards who is currently out of Darjeeling could not be immediately contacted.

Zimba said the party was not aware that Edwards had fallen out with Mann.

Regarding the August 6 delegation, Zimba said given the Covid-19 protocol, only the party presidents were invited.

“Even presidents of our allies, Dawa Pakhrin (of Gorkhaland Rajya Nirmal Morcha), Bikash Rai (SUMETE Mukti Morcha) and Pratap Khati (a faction of Akhil Bharatiya Gorkha League) were not invited,” said Zimba. “I was allowed in the delegation as an MLA.”

Many in the hills believe that tensions have developed between Edwards and Zimba also.

“Regarding my appointment, the decision was taken by the party president after consultations in the core committee,” said Zimba. “No individual is above the party and its president.”