Trinamul’s decision to induct former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang ahead of civic polls in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong may raise an “acceptability” question, many insiders believe.

“Tamang has backed Trinamul from outside since 2017, but the question is if his inclusion in the party will be accepted,” said a Trinamul source.

Tamang earlier this year severed ties with Anit Thapa, another prominent hill leader and close aide for years, to quit the Morcha faction he had formed with Thapa and headed since 2017. Tamang had revolted against Morcha founder Bimal Gurung to form the faction.

“While Thapa’s clout in hill politics has grown over the years and he is now an ally of Trinamul like Gurung, Tamang has become a part of the ruling party in Bengal. A lot will depend on how the Trinamul top brass balances the aspirations of these three hill leaders,” said a source.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had called both Thapa, president of the Bharaitya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGP), and Roshan Giri, general secretary of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, to an administrative meeting in Kurseong in October, which showed her willingness to accommodate both allies.

Mamata had also asked both Thapa and Giri to submit their proposal for “a permanent political solution” to the state government soon. “It is clear that the Trinamul chief is keen on strengthening ties with her hill allies and she definitely would not want to antagonise them. This balancing game could be tricky even for the supporters,” the leader added.

Hill Trinamul leaders are keenly waiting for the announcement of the post that Tamang will get in the party.

“I can’t disclose this right away,” Tamang said when asked.

Some Trinamul leaders believe there is every chance of factionalism following Tamang’s induction.

In the Assembly elections, hill Trinamul leaders such as Darjeeling (hill) district president L.B. Rai, who chairs Mirik municipality, and Kalimpong district president Shanta Chhetri, who is a Rajya Sabha member, had publicly supported Gurung’s candidates in the three hill seats and not Tamang’s.

Gurung’s candidates, however, lost all three seats. Tamang’s candidate won in Kalimpong. The BJP won the Darjeeling and Kurseong seats.

An observer said these issues need to be ironed out. “Trinamul, which had won the Mirik municipality in 2017 cannot afford to have any of its leaders walking out of the party because of Tamang’s induction,” he said.

N.B. Khawash, Trinamul coordinator, however, said Tamang’s induction would help the party in the hills.

“We welcome his induction, and this will help the party as he has his own supporters in the hills. As far as his post is concerned, the decision will be taken by the state leadership,” said Khawash.

Tamang’s supporters will receive him at NJP station on Sunday morning. On reaching Darjeeling, Tamang will visit the Trinamul office at Judge Bazar.