Supporters of the Bimal Gurung faction of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha hoisted the party’s flag atop Gitangadara — a podium where most public meetings in Darjeeling are held — in a symbolic move which is seen as a precursor to his return to the hills after more than three years.

Gurung had resurfaced in Calcutta on October 21, after being on the run since the violent Gorkhaland agitation in 2017, and announced his party’s decision to quit the National Democratic Alliance and join hands with the Trinamul Congress in the 2021 Bengal Assembly polls.

Until the announcement of his tie-up with Trinamul, many had felt Gurung was the most popular leader in Darjeeling who had not compromised on the statehood issue. But since then, the Gurung faction has come under the scanner largely because of Trinamul’s opposition to the statehood demand.

Bimal Gurung in Calcutta on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Against this background, Saturday’s development at Chowk Bazar here was significant.

“The party leaders are definitely preparing ground for Gurung’s most probable return to the hills and also trying to send a message that many are still with Gurung despite his alliance with Trinamul,” said a hill observer.

Gurung had earlier said he would soon return to the hills and many observers believe that this could be possible after the handshake with Trinamul, even though there are legal hurdles in the way.

On Saturday morning, his supporters not only unfurled the Morcha flag on the rooftop of Gitangadara but also raised slogans in favour of Gurung, an act which was considered impossible until a few days ago.

“We promise that our leader is returning soon. We will welcome him in a grand manner,” said Noman Rai, the working president of the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (Gurung camp).

The Gurung camp is justifying the decision to ally with Trinamul on the ground that the tie-up would facilitate the return of “5,000 supporters who are on the run”.

At his news conference in Calcutta on Wednesday, Gurung had said: “While I was sitting back for the past three years, I saw Mamata Banerjee meet whatever commitments she had made to the people. We have decided that in the Assembly elections of 2021, we will stand with her and Trinamul. She is an idol and we want to see her again in her post (of chief minister).”

Rai on Saturday criticised the BJP for not even fulfilling small demands like “central university for the hills, not to talk about major demands” in the past 12 years of allying with the BJP.