All the 17 councillors of the Kurseong municipality have extended their support to the rebel GJM faction led by Binay Tamang, expelled party leader Anit Thapa claimed today.
The chairman of the municipality, Krishna Limbu, a loyalist of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung, was arrested last month for his alleged involvement in violence in the hills.
Thapa claimed that the councillors extended their support to Tamang yesterday during the party's foundation day programme.
"These councillors have extended their support to us. In the next few days, other leaders will also support the leadership of Binay Tamang," he told reporters.
Tamang and Thapa, who have been appointed the chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Administrators (BoA) respectively by the West Bengal government, were expelled from the GJM by Gurung for allegedly compromising on the cause of creating a separate state of Gorkhaland.
GJM supporters loyal to Tamang had removed Gurung's photographs from the party office in Kalimpong yesterday.
Gurung, against whom a look out notice was issued by the state CID last month for allegedly instigating violence, rioting, killings, explosions and arson, has been on the run ever since.
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