BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday made an attempt to downplay the support base of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha factions — the strongest political force in the hills — and said that even the support of both Morcha camps can’t make Mamata Banerjee and Trinamul win the three hill Assembly seats.

At a public meeting at Baghajatin Park here, Ghosh said: “People of Darjeeling hills have been repeatedly cheated and in the Assembly polls, they will give a fitting reply to Trinamul. (Bimal) Gurung or Binay Tamang won’t be able to help Mamata Banerjee win. Many prominent faces in the hills have joined BJP and residents will support us.”

Ghosh’s assertion comes when Trinamul has the support of both Morcha camps. Long-time BJP ally Gurung ditched the party in October 2020 over “unfulfilled promises” to join hands with Trinamul. The Tamang faction is a Trinamul ally since 2017.

The BJP has the support of GNLF, CPRM, ABGL and some other regional forces.

“Gurung had once threatened the chief minister and was forced to stay away from the hills for over three years. Now he has joined hands with Trinamul….” said Ghosh.

The BJP forged ties with the Morcha in 2009 and won three back-to-back Lok Sabha polls in Darjeeling. Gurung’s support was said to be crucial for the 2019 Darjeeling Assembly bypoll win of Neeraj Zimba, the GNLF leader who contested on a BJP ticket.

“Now that Gurung has cut ties with the saffron brigade, BJP leaders who had piggybacked on the Morcha are fuming at him,” said an observer.

On Wednesday, the BJP has planned a protest in front of the Alipurduar district magistrate’s office on issues related to tea workers.

Shiv Sena in fray

The Shiv Sena will field candidates in at least 100 of 294 Assembly seats in Bengal polls, Ashok Sarkar, Sena state secretary said on Tuesday. On January 23, they would observe birth anniversaries of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Sena founder Bal Thackeray in Calcutta and Asansol, he said.

“Prominent leaders of our party will be in Bengal to campaign for our candidates ahead of the elections,” added Sarkar.

Additional reporting by our Alipurduar & Cooch Behar correspondents