Hyderabad, Oct. 31 -- The sudden resurfacing of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) leader Bimal Gurung, who had been absconding since 2017 after he was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, gave birth to a whole new political equation in West Bengals hill district Darjeeling.

A faction led by Binoy Tamang, who became the president of GJM after Gurung's disappearance, staged protests taking out rallies in the hills. The situation went so out of control that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had to step in to iron out differences between the warring factions of the hill party. Banerjee also made it clear that Tamang would remain the chairperson of the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).

The GTA is the regional a...