Bhattacharjee said a political dialogue was the only way out, hinting that a tripartite meeting between the state, Centre and the GJM could be arranged to talk things over. Of the 16 parties invited to the meeting, 12 sent their representatives to the Writers’ Buildings. Those who kept away were the Trinamool Congress, the SUCI, the GNLF and Naren Hansda’s faction of the Jharkhand Party.

The unanimous resolution passed in this meeting read: “More efforts should be made to enhance the standard of living of the people of Darjeeling as well as to improve the economic and social conditions of the people there. Without changing the geographical contours of West Bengal, the issue of expanding the administrative and financial powers of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council can be considered with sympathy.”

Bhattacharjee said, “We are ready to talk to all for a political solution here. But, there shall be no pre-conditions put forward for these talks. However, before we go to the tripartite table, I would like to talk to those agitating in the Hills.” He also said he was keeping the Centre abreast of the situation.

The state Congress president and Union minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi — who addressed the media jointly with Bhattacharjee — said: “I would request protesters to shun confrontation and talk things over with the state government. I also remind them not to punish the people of Sikkim as the blocks on national highways leading to that state have disrupted normal life.”

Meanwhile, Gurung’s meeting decided the GJM would ask the Centre to create a separate Gorkhaland, comprising areas of Darjeeling and those contiguous to the Dooars.

Hill representatives of the Congress, Trinamool Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and even the CPI have ratified this demand, the GJM claimed. However, except for the state leadership of the BJP, no other party highcommand was too happy about these men.

Trinamool Congress general secretary Partha Chatterjee said, “Party member Gopal Singh Chhetri, who attended Gurung’s meeting, was not authorised to do so by the Kolkata headquarters.”

Meanwhile CPI’s Mohan Singh Rai — the party leader in Darjeeling and a former MLA from Kalimpong— is staring at an angry leadership because he had not taken permission to attend Gurung’s meeting. The party’s state secretary Manju Majumder said, “He has violated the party’s decision and we shall take action against him.”

Congress’ Dasmunsi said, “The politician who attended the Hill meeting, saying he belonged to the Congress, is not even an office-bearer.”

However, BJP’s Rahul Sinha said, “Our representative was sent to attend the meeting, though what he said was entirely his personal opinion.” The BJP favours smaller states, he said.