Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front Seeks to Join 'One North East' Alliance for Unified Regional Representation

IGJF President Ajoy Edwards recently engaged with numerous North East leaders during a significant meeting in Shillong.

Momentum is building for a unified regional political coalition encompassing North East India and North Bengal, with the Indian Gorkha Janshakti Front (IGJF), based in West Bengal's Darjeeling district, showing strong interest in becoming part of the recently established 'One North East' initiative.

Ajoy Edwards, founder and president of IGJF, recently convened with Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP President Conrad K Sangma, along with various other regional leaders in Shillong, indicating his readiness to collaborate with the platform. Edwards, a notable political figure from Darjeeling, characterized the meeting as a crucial advancement toward establishing a more comprehensive regional alliance.

In a comprehensive social media statement, Edwards highlighted the common feeling of marginalization experienced across Himalayan and tribal communities extending "from Ladakh to Manipur, from Kalimpong to the Dooars, from Kohima to the Garo Hills." He remarked that citizens throughout these areas "feel taken for granted" and continue to endure what Pradyot frequently terms "the tyranny of distance."

Edwards emphasized that this movement transcends party politics, focusing instead on securing justice, dignity, and constitutional rights for historically underrepresented hill, tribal, and borderland communities. He underscored that fragmentation weakens their collective influence, while unity could transform them "from a drop into a wave that cannot be ignored in any Assembly or in the Parliament of India."

He additionally noted that the coalition intends to focus on protecting land rights and cultural identity, ensuring fair representation, and promoting genuine development across hill and tribal regions.

The 'One North East' initiative is led by Conrad K Sangma, TIPRA Motha founder Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman, former Nagaland Minister and ex-BJP national spokesperson Mmhonlumo Kikon, and People's Party Assam founder Daniel Langthasa. The platform aims to unify voices from across the region to collectively address longstanding political and developmental issues.

A joint declaration previously signed by these leaders called for a more robust, unified platform to advocate for constitutional protections, equitable resource distribution, preservation of identity, and fair political representation throughout the North East.