The people of Darjeeling and GJM also had great expectations from her and they voted her to power with full majority. But with the passing of time, the relation between GJM and Trinamool is going from bad to worse. The rift between GJM and Trinamool started widening when the GJM supported John Barla faction was not allowed by the administration to hold a meeting at Nagrakata on 22nd April. A big public gathering was expected at Nagrakata, Dooars, members of the Barla faction and GJM Chief Bimal Gurung were to attend the programme but the administration didn’t allow the Barla faction to hold the programme in anticipation of the eruption of violence on the day as the anti-GTA faction had also called on strike opposing the programme.

The Barla faction which is demanding that the 398 Mauzas of Terai and Dooars be included into GTA in turn, called an indefinite strike in Terai and Dooars from the 23rd of April. Widespread violence gripped the Dooars even from the first day of the strike as pro and anti bandh supporters fought pitched battles that resulted in arson where as many as 13 shops at Banarhat Bazar were affected. Besides this, a party office of John Barla was also set on fire by anti-bandh supporters at Chamucrhi, 20 kms away from Banarhat. As the situation was getting out of hand, the police had to resort to lathi charge besides firing tear gas shell and rubber bullets. The bandh supporters also clashed at Odlabari in Western Dooars. In Terai also, more than 50 bandh supporters were arrested. Inspector General of Police, Sanjay Singh said that an additional two companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in the sensitive area of Dooars and Terai. Though the Barla faction had called an indefinite strike in Tarai-Dooars, this was later relaxed.

John Barla, the President of the pro-GTA joint action committee, announced the relaxation of the bandh to 48 hours on 24th April. The announcement was followed by the appeal of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to maintain peace and harmony in the region. On the same day North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb reached Darjeeling and met senior GJM leaders also. However, the Barla faction extended the relaxation of the bandh till 7th May. On the occasion, Barla said, “We organized public meetings at Jaigaon, Birpara and Dalsingpara without the permission of the administration. Now we will give time to government to consider our demand to hold public meeting in Doooars and Terai.”

However, the GJM Chief Bimal Gurung, who was in Dooars since the beginning of the indefinite strike and only left Dooars after four days on the request of the administration, said that they wanted to hold the public meeting at Nagrakata to talk about the pros and cons of GTA with the public. However, this was denied. “The government itself has given us GTA and now is denying us permission to hold a meeting to explain the pros and cons of GTA. If they don’t allow us to tell the people then we don’t need GTA,” Gurung said. Gurung also criticized the administration for not giving him permission to stay in Dooars. “The people who are manning the borders of the nation and keep them safe are called foreigners. Why do I have to get permission to come here? What kind of democracy is this?” he asked.

Widespread violence gripped the Dooars even from the first day of the strike as pro and anti bandh supporters fought pitched battles that resulted in arson where as many as 13 shops at Banarhat Bazar were affected.

Meanwhile, GJM has also decided to boycott the government programme in the hills. On 25th May when NBD Minister Mr. Dev reached Darjeeling to attend a meeting of Rogi Kalyan Samity held at Darjeeling District Hospital, MLA Trilok Dewan and Darjeeling Civic Chief Amar Singh Rai, who were invited to the programme did not turn up. In Kalmipong, 2 supporters of the GJM were detained for 2 hours for showing black flags to the minister. The tension is gripping at a time when GTA was passed by the President of India and the state government has set up a high power committee headed by (Retd.) Justice Shyamal Kr. Sen to look into the inclusion of 398 Mauzas of Dooars under GTA. Minister Deb on the issue said that the government won’t interfere in the affairs of the high power committee as the committee was formed with the consent of the GJM and their representatives are also included in this high power committee to see that a fair decision for the benefit of the people of this region is arrived at.