West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will attend the foundation day celebration of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on October 7, GJM president Bimal Gurung announced on Sunday. Gurung said Adhikari will attend the event as the chief guest. The GJM has been campaigning for a permanent political solution to issues concerning the hills of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong in northern West Bengal.
Gurung said he and GJM general secretary Roshan Giri had met Adhikari in Kolkata in July and invited him to the foundation day programme. According to Gurung, the Chief Minister's participation has now been confirmed. The announcement comes at a time when discussions over a long-term political settlement for the region have gained fresh momentum following talks involving the Centre and representatives from the Bengal hills.
The development follows a tripartite meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday to discuss a permanent political solution for the hills. A new committee headed by former Border Security Force Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh has also been proposed to examine the issue. The committee is expected to visit the hills, Terai and Dooars regions before submitting its recommendations to the Union Home Ministry.
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The proposed political settlement is also significant because the discussions have indicated that the hills and the adjoining jungle-plains areas of the Terai and Dooars would remain within West Bengal. The committee's field visits and subsequent report are expected to provide inputs for determining the framework of the proposed settlement. The issue has remained politically sensitive for years, with different groups in the region pursuing varying demands over political representation, administration and greater autonomy.
The GJM, founded by Bimal Gurung, has played a prominent role in politics in the Darjeeling hills and has maintained its demand for a permanent political arrangement for the region. Its relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party has also been politically significant, particularly during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. BJP candidates backed by the GJM won all six Assembly constituencies in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, according to the report.
Adhikari's participation in the GJM foundation day programme could therefore carry political significance as discussions on the future administrative and political framework of the northern Bengal hills continue. The event is expected to bring together GJM leaders and supporters at a time when the Centre's newly constituted committee begins its consultations. The next phase of discussions will depend on the committee's assessment and the recommendations it submits to the Union Home Ministry.
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