The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha central committee on Monday suspended for six months the absconding party president Bimal Gurung, a day ahead of an all-party meeting called by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Gurung's wife and GJM Mahila Morcha chief Asha, his close aide and party general secretary Roshan Giri and 11 others were also suspended for the same period, Binay Tamang, who was appointed the party's new president, said.
Anit Thapa was made General Secretary while other vacant posts in the party would be filled soon, Tamang said at a press conference after the meeting was held at Ghoom near Darjeeling.
For the last six months these people (Mr Gurung and other suspended leaders) have become inactive and were not performing their duties in the party. So we have suspended them for six months as per the party constitution.Gurung as quoted by The Hindu
Gurung has been absconding since August after the state government lodged cases against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged involvement in bomb blasts in Darjeeling hills during the over the three-month-long shutdown for a separate state.
The 104-day shutdown was called off on 27 September.
While a faction of the GJM supports Gurung, the one being backed by the state government is led by Tamang.
Tamang himself was expelled from the party in a central committee meeting headed by Gurung at an undisclosed location in September.
Later that month, the state government formed a nine- member 'Board of Administrators' to run the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) and appointed Tamang as its Chairman
All 45 elected members of GTA including its Chief Executive Bimal Gurung had resigned in June when the agitation had begun.
(with inputs from PTI)
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