Leader of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha breakaway faction Binay Tamang on Sunday announced his decision to quit electoral politics.

“I will not indulge in electoral politics further...under no circumstances,” Tamang told mediapersons, adding that he was making the announcement after having discussed the issue with his family, friends and well-wishers. However, Tamang also added that he would continue to indulge in politics and his party would contest the elections. “I will indulge in politics. It is just that I will not contest elections. My party will contest elections,” said the hill leader.

Of late, Tamang has started speaking on larger issues like the review of the India-Nepal Friendship Treaty 1950, the administrative history of the region, the inclusion of the region under the ministry for Northeast states.

These are all issues whose impact would be felt by Indian Gorkhas across the country and not just Darjeeling hills.

Many believe that Tamang is probably attempting to position himself as a leader of the community and not just of the region by flagging these issues that are seen as a step towards creating a distinct identity of the Indian Gorkhas from Nepal citizens.

“I have taken the decision (to quit electoral politics) to ensure the success of the issues that I have recently raised,” said Tamang, hinting that electoral politics and pursuing community-specific issues could not go hand in hand.

Many hill observers believe that without electoral success, his acceptance as a leader of the community would be difficult.

On his part, Tamang however asserted he would not put one foot in each boat, a clear indication that his intent now was to pursue these issues instead of running after elections or administrative positions.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader had formed a splinter group in 2017 and had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Darjeeling Assembly by-election.

Tamang had then quit as chairman of board of administrators, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), to contest the Assembly election which was finally won by Neeraj Zimba, a GNLF leader who had contested on a BJP ticket.

His trusted aide Anit Thapa became the GTA chairman, a position he continues to hold.

During his interaction with the media in Kalimpong on Sunday, Tamang repeatedly stressed that he was not “power hungry”.

“I stayed in the most important chair of the hills (chairman of the GTA) for 18 months. Now that Anit Thapa (general secretary of his party) is there. If I was power hungry I could have gone back to the GTA,” said Tamang.

Many believe Tamang is trying to bolster his image by bringing out the “not power hungry” narrative. “If I become power hungry, I will not be successful in (working on) the issues raised,” said Tamang.