Kalimpong, March 4: The resignations of Kalimpong MLA Gaulan Lepcha and former DGHC councillor Tshering Sherpa from the GNLF could herald the exodus of a considerable number of members from the subdivision.

The duo put in their resignations yesterday, four days after the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha scored twin victories by successfully stalling the Sixth Schedule bill in Parliament and extracting an assurance from the Bengal government that Subash Ghisingh would resign as caretaker administrator of the DGHC within March 10.

Analysts said their resignations would sound the death knell for the GNLF in the Kalimpong sub-division.

Lepcha said the only reason why he resigned is the inept leadership of Ghisingh.

“He alone is responsible for bringing the party to such a sorry state despite enjoying popular support of the people for two decades,” Lepcha said.

The three-time Kalimpong legislator said he has no plans to join any party and would support anyone espousing the Gorkhaland cause.

Notably, Morcha president Bimal Gurung had in the past indicated that he was not averse to Lepcha joining his new party, provided, as with other GNLF rebels, the recommendation came from the grassroots. Sherpa, though, is unlikely to be accepted by Gurung so readily.

In fact, during two earlier occasions that Gurung addressed public meetings here after the formation of the Morcha, he had taken potshots at Sherpa and other GNLF leaders. Lepcha, however, had been spared.

This probably explains why immediately after announcing his resignation, Sherpa said he was joining the Congress along with his supporters. However, the Darjeeling district Congress committee today said Sherpa had not joined the party.

“When anybody wishes to join our party, he or she has to seek membership by following certain procedures. Neither Sherpa, nor his supporters, have done that. The party will take a decision only after they formally apply for membership,” said a Congress official.

Kurseong clash

Six persons were arrested from Latpanchar, 17km from Kurseong, after supporters of the Morcha and the GNLF clashed last night, reports our correspondent.

All six are Morcha supporters, who were later released on personal bonds.

The Morcha has alleged that the GNLF members had abused them and had also asked them not to use electricity that was distributed by the rural electrification department of the DGHC.

This led to a war of words, followed by the clash in which both the groups pelted the other with stones.

The Morcha has also filed an FIR with the Kurseong police demanding the arrest of the GNLF members.