Interlocutor visit: Gurung-convened all-party meet sees poor turnout, wraps up in 1 hr
Times of India | 10 November 2025
Darjeeling: An all-party meeting convened by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) to build consensus ahead of the Centre-appointed interlocutor's visit, saw a disappointing turnout on Sunday, with only five of the 12 invited parties attending.
The meeting, which began at 12.15pm, was supposed to be a day-long deliberation. However, with such a small turnout, the meet was wrapped out within an hour. Among those present were representatives of smaller Hills-based groups, while key players such as the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) — a BJP ally — and the Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) — an ally of TMC that currently dominates hill politics chose to stay away.
People in the know said the poor attendance of the meeting could actually be a pointer to Bimal Gurung's waning influence over a region he once dominated.
Expressing disappointment over the poor response, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri said after the meeting: "We invited all political parties to stand united on our long-standing demand for Gorkhaland when the interlocutor arrives. GNLF informed us that it had a central committee meeting and could not attend. But it is unfortunate that other parties chose to stay away."
Giri added that despite the limited participation, the groups that attended agreed to present a unified stand before the interlocutor, who is expected to meet a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the All India Scheduled Castes Association and the Gorkha Janjati Mahasangh.