Shops with shutters down in Kalimpong. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha

Kalimpong, Feb. 24: Darjeeling MLA Pranai Rai’s suggestion to hold a referendum on the Sixth Schedule for the hills has been well received more by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha than by his colleagues in the GNLF, at least in Kalimpong.

While most GNLF leaders The Telegraph spoke to refused to go on record, Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha brushed aside the suggestion.

“Why should there be a referendum now when the people have already given their verdict in favour of Sixth Schedule in the last Assembly election,” said Lepcha.

The three-time MLA said his single-point poll plank had been Sixth Schedule status, and the people had voted overwhelmingly for him. .

Given that there are no takers within the GNLF for a referendum, it appears Rai was speaking in his individual capacity. Or, probably, he is trying to wriggle his way out of the party, having seen the writing on the wall, said an observer.

The Morcha, on its part, said it would always welcome a referendum.

“In fact, this has been our demand right from the beginning. It was the state government and the GNLF who were not in favour of holding a referendum,” said Harka Bahadur Chettri, central committee member of the Morcha. He felt that by floating such an idea so late in the day, Rai could be trying to gain the goodwill of the people and, maybe, even leave the party.