A host of leaders from Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has quit the party when important local elections are on the cards.

Twenty prominent leaders, including Satyawan Chettri, the president of the Morcha youth wing’s Kurseong subdivision, Bhuwan P. Kanal, spokesman for the party’s Kalimpong district committee, Abhishek Mothey, the assistant secretary of the youth wing’s Kalimpong district, and central committee members Yuvraj Lama, Yograj Pradhan and Deep Sanyashi quit Gurung’s camp in the past two days.

Fifteen active Morcha members also left the party in Tindharia block.

“We are unsatisfied with the working of the party and its policies and that is why we have resigned from the Morcha,” said Satyawan Chhetri.

Many in the hills believe the current developments could have major implications for the Morcha as local elections are likely to be held soon.

“The civic elections are due. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said she is in favour of holding elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, which have been due since 2017, soon,” said an observer.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, refused to comment on the development. “I would not want to comment….few leaders have left,” he said.

However, on Saturday afternoon, Gurung posted on social media a photograph of him with “youths” of Tindharia.

Most Morcha leaders in Tindharia have of late tendered their resignation and the photo is a clear indication that he is trying to assuage the concerns of his supporters.