Former leader of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Binay Tamang, who recently joined Trinamul, on Sunday said he will work for development of the hills while dodging a direct reply on the statehood issue.

Tamang, along with former Kurseong MLA Rohit Sharma, returned from Calcutta by train on Sunday, two days after the duo joined Trinamul in the presence of two state ministers.

“The demand of Gorkhaland is not the demand of All India Trinamul Congress but that of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Today, since I am a member of Trinamul, this (speaking on Gorkhaland) would be (considered) outside the (ambit of the) party’s discipline,” Tamang told newspersons at the Trinamul office at Judge Bazar in Darjeeling.

Earlier in the day, the duo reached New Jalpaiguri station, to be welcomed by hundreds of Trinamul supporters. From there, the duo were taken to the INTTUC office in NJP and felicitated there. The INTTUC is the Trinamul workers’ front.

Tamang, who quit the Morcha in July this year, lashed out at the BJP for “fooling” the people of Darjeeling hills.

“BJP leaders have fooled hill residents by dangling a lollipop called Gorkhaland and have won Parliament elections three consecutive terms. They, however, did nothing for the Gorkhas. People have realised it now and will give a befitting reply to the BJP at the Lok Sabha election in 2024,” he said in NJP.

Asked about his decision to join Trinamul, the hill leader said he did it for the “betterment of hill people and development of the region.”

“People in the hills now want development and employment for youths. There are ample good human resources and natural resources in the hills. We need to explore these aspects and work together,” said Tamang.

On his political aspirations, he said his only aim was to consolidate the support base of Trinamul across the region, including the Terai and the Dooars.

On his electoral ambitions henceforth, he said that was up to the party leadership.

“When I was heading a party, I had decided not to contest elections to focus on organisational matters. However, since I have joined a new party, I will abide by the decision of the party leadership,” he said when asked if he would contest polls.

In 2019, Tamang contested the bypoll of Darjeeling Assembly seat butlost to Neeraj Zimba, a GNLF leader who had contested on a BJP ticket.