IGJF Gorkhaland Demand as 460 Families Join Party at Kalebung Meet
The Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF) has renewed its push for a separate state of Gorkhaland while signalling a growing organisational footprint in the Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars. At a workers’ meeting held in Kalebung, the party’s central leadership asserted that its political agenda remains firmly anchored in the long-standing demand for statehood, even as hundreds of families formally joined its ranks.
The meeting, attended by Central Coordinator Ajay Edwards and other senior leaders, marked a significant show of strength for the relatively young political formation. Party officials said the programme reflected both grassroots mobilisation and public endorsement of IGJF’s stated position of combining identity-based demands with development-oriented politics.
Mass Induction Strengthens Grassroots Base
A key highlight of the Kalebung meeting was the induction of 460 families from different constituencies in the region into the IGJF. Party representatives described the move as an indication of expanding support across rural pockets of the hills.
Among those who joined was Ekta Yonjan, an independent member of the Salbung Gram Panchayat Committee from Constituency No. 42. Yonjan formally joined the party by accepting its flag during the programme, a symbolic act that IGJF leaders said reflected increasing confidence in the party’s leadership and direction at the local governance level.
Senior party members present at the meeting said organisational expansion has gathered pace over recent months, with similar outreach programmes being conducted in multiple pockets of the hills and adjoining areas. According to them, the party’s appeal lies in what it describes as a clear and consistent stand on both political identity and development.
‘Nothing Less Than Gorkhaland’: Leadership’s Clear Message
Addressing party workers and new members, Ajay Edwards reiterated that the IGJF Gorkhaland demand remains non-negotiable. “We want nothing other than Gorkhaland,” he said, underlining that the party does not view interim administrative arrangements as a solution to the region’s long-standing concerns.
Edwards said that opposition councillors of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) were scheduled to meet the Centre-appointed interlocutor, Pankaj Kumar Singh, and that the IGJF expects the IGJF Gorkhaland demand for a separate state to be placed unequivocally before the Central Government.
“The IGJF Gorkhaland demand is not limited to one organisation or one region,” Edwards said. “It is the collective aspiration of Gorkhas living in the hills, Terai, Dooars and in different parts of the country. Any discussion with the Centre must reflect this reality.”
Party leaders present at the meeting echoed the sentiment, with slogans calling for Gorkhaland resonating throughout the programme. Central Executive Member N.B. Khawas and former IPS officer Norbu Chhiring were among those who addressed the gathering, emphasising unity and sustained mobilisation.
Position on Development and Governance
Alongside its political demand, the IGJF sought to project itself as a party committed to development, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the hills. Party representatives highlighted what they described as Ajay Edwards’ personal involvement in supporting basic infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges in interior villages.
According to the party, such initiatives demonstrate its approach of addressing immediate developmental needs while continuing to pursue broader political goals. Leaders claimed that improved connectivity and basic facilities are essential for economic activity, education and healthcare in the hills, and argued that long-term development would gain momentum if the party were to assume political power.
The IGJF reiterated its stated principle of “not abandoning the land and not abandoning the path of development,” positioning this as a response to public frustration over stalled projects and governance challenges in the region.
Context: The Continuing Gorkhaland Debate
The demand for Gorkhaland has shaped politics in the Darjeeling hills for decades, with multiple movements, negotiations and administrative arrangements attempted over the years. Bodies such as the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council and later the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration were created to provide a degree of autonomy, but critics argue they have failed to address structural issues related to identity, employment and long-term development.
Supporters of statehood contend that a separate state is necessary to ensure focused governance, equitable resource allocation and political recognition of the Gorkha community. Opponents, however, have raised concerns about administrative feasibility and broader implications for the state.
Against this backdrop, the IGJF has positioned itself as a party unwilling to dilute the core demand, even as it engages with existing political processes.
Looking Ahead
Party leaders said the Kalebung meeting was part of a larger strategy to strengthen organisational networks ahead of future political developments in the region. With discussions involving the Centre and regional stakeholders expected to continue, the IGJF indicated that it would closely monitor outcomes while maintaining pressure through mobilisation.
As political activity in the hills gathers momentum, the party’s ability to translate growing membership into sustained influence will be closely watched. For now, the Kalebung gathering underscored that the Gorkhaland issue remains central to hill politics, with the IGJF seeking to place itself firmly at the forefront of that debate.
