A new political outfit, Gorkha Rashtriya Mukti Morcha (Subashwadi), was officially launched on Monday, positioning itself as a “replacement” for the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and continuing the longstanding demand for 6th Schedule status for the Darjeeling hills. The party’s name carries the same meaning as GNLF in Nepali and has adopted the slogan “Mero Jati, Mero Mato” (My community, my land), originally coined by late GNLF founder Subash Ghisingh.
The GNLF, which played a historic role in hill politics, was delisted by the Election Commission of India on September 19, 2025, after failing to contest elections over the past six years. Former GNLF leaders have now formed the new party to preserve Ghisingh’s legacy and continue political advocacy in the region.
The party has outlined 11 programmes, including sending memorandums to the Union and state governments to expedite the 6th Schedule Bill. A public meeting is scheduled for January 16 at Sumeru Manch in Darjeeling.
The 6th Schedule aims to provide greater autonomy and protection for land, community, and culture. It was first proposed in the 2005 Memorandum of Settlement between the GNLF, the State, and the Centre, but the Bill was not passed due to opposition from several regional political parties over potential community divisions.
The new party has stated it will pursue the matter legally if required and will not coordinate with the GNLF, citing the latter’s earlier opposition to the 6th Schedule. Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the party plans to focus on lobbying in Delhi rather than aligning with the state government, keeping the 6th Schedule demand at the core of its political agenda.
