A new political party, the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), with the demand for Gorkhaland state as its prime agenda, was launched in Darjeeling on Sunday.

Ajoy Edwards, who dissolved his Hamro Party on Saturday, has been made the convener of the IGJF. The name of the party was announced by Norbu Tshering, a former IPS officer who presided over the meeting at the Darjeeling Gymkhana Club.

Prominent political faces who joined Edwards included Pradeep Pradhan, former deputy chairman, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA); Prakash Gurung and Yogendra Rai, former GTA Sabha members; N.B.Khawash, former councillor of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council; and Mahendra Chhetri, former general secretary of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF).

These leaders were earlier involved with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the GNLF and the Trinamool Congress.

“We will keep no enemies,” said Edwards, hinting that the new party plans equidistance from both the state and Centre.

IGJF has raised the “Gorkha unity” slogan and has listed five issues that it plans to take up immediately.

They are raising the demand for Gorkhaland state, inclusion of 11 Gorkha communities in the Schedule Tribe list, implementation of minimum wages act in the tea gardens, land rights and new provisions for the region during delimitation of constituencies.

A formal structure of the party will be formed within the next 45 days.

Observers maintain that this section of the leadership believe that they can take on Anit Thapa’s BGPM politically as the party, which, as an ally of the TMC in the hills, has been silent on the Gorkhaland issue and is only stressing on the development plank.

“These leaders sense a vacuum in Darjeeling politics,” said an observer who stressed that statehood demand is still the overwhelming sentiment in the Darjeeling hills.

Sources said that the groundwork to start this new political alignment had started in July-end this year.

The decision to dissolve Hamro Party and form a new entity was further pushed following a suggestion to the party by the Election Commission of India to change its name.

Hamro Party, formed three years ago, had won the Darjeeling municipality within three months of its formation but lost control of the board due to defection. It has five elected members in the GTA.

“The Election Commission has told us to change the name as they feel it is very similar to other political parties. We have been told to submit a list of three other names to them,” Edwards had earlier told this newspaper.

Political parties need to be registered with the EC.

Even though the commission has not specified the details, Edwards said that their party leaders believe that the EC is probably pointing towards the Hamro Sikkim Party formed by former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia. Bhaichung has since quit politics.