Veteran leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) on Tuesday formally announced his decision to quit the party floated by Subash Ghisingh.

Mahendra Chhetri, who joined GNLF in 2011 and was its general-secretary and spokesperson since, in an official press release stated he was severing ties with the party.

“My journey with the GNLF ends today,” reads the first line of the release.

Recently, Chhetri had expressed disappointment with the leadership, including present party chief and Ghisingh’s son Mann Ghisingh, for “surrendering the party’s ideology and principles to the BJP and for functioning solely at the directive of some leaders of the saffron camp”.

On September 15, The Telegraph had reported on Chhetri’s stand where he had also hinted he would part ways with the GNLF. On Tuesday, he confirmed his decision.

He said in the release that “realisation has hit many of us in the party” that the GNLF is “more committed towards the BJP and its leaders in Calcutta and Delhi, than its hard-working party cadres and leaders”.

He was critical of Mann, too. “Ever since the electoral alliance that was stitched with the party in power in Delhi, our president has completely surrendered the entire organisation, neglecting the ethos and the aspirations of the Gorkhas. The president- seems rudderless. His actions and decisions, which are only taken keeping his coterie in mind, have been more detrimental to the cause of the Gorkhas than anything else,” Chhetri said.

This is the second major blow for the GNLF, after Ajoy Edwards, another prominent face, walked out of the party.

On his future plans, Chhetri was brief. “I will let you know in due time if I join any other political organisation,” he said.

None of the prominent GNLF leaders could be contacted. Calls made to them went unanswered.