Gurung hopes new Modi govt will look into Gorkhaland demand

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung, who is in hiding, Friday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the resounding victory of BJP and hoped that his new government will look into the long standing demand for Gorkhaland.

Gurung's faction of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha had supported BJP's Raju Bisht has recorded a massive victory against TMC's Amar Singh Rai.

In Darjeeling by-election, Neeraj Tamang Zimba of BJP defeated GJM leader Binoy Tamang, who fought as an independent candidate with TMC support.

"We are very happy that BJP has won and TMC and the traitors of GJM have lost the polls. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will request the BJP leadership and the new government to look into our long standing demand of Gorkhaland," Gurung told PTI over phone.

The BJP, which has won for the third straight time in Darjeeling, had made no mention of the statehood issue in its manifesto but assured a "permanent ...