“We have heard that the Chief Minister has written a second letter to us. We are waiting for the letter and want that the tripartite meeting be held in Delhi,” spokesperson for GJM Roshan Giri told The Indian Express.

Earlier, Bhattacharjee had written a letter to GJM leaders and invited them to sit for talks on June 18 over the Darjeeling issue.

But GJM chief Bimal Gurung rejected the offer saying his party was not called for an all-party meeting in Kolkata. Later, Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee called for tripartite talks with the GJM leaders, which they agreed to.

Giri said: “It is only after final details of the tripartie meeting in Delhi are worked out that we will consider lifting of the strike. We have no objection if the Chief Minister attends the meeting in Delhi. We will also not have any precondition, but it is obvious that we will put forth our demands.”

Sources at the Chief Minister’s secretariet said a fresh proposal for talks was being sent to the GJM leaders in a letter that would have the resolution of the all-party meeting in Kolkata.

Giri also declined to comment on the all-party meeting’s decision to sympathetically consider expansion of DGHC’s administrative and financial powers while keeping the present contours of West Bengal unchanged. “Let us get the letter first. Then we will be in a position to comment,” said Giri.

Meanwhile, residents of Darjeeling and adjoining areas faced hardships due to depleting stocks of food and other essential commodities. GJM supporters were seen at various spots carrying out their relay hunger-strike in small groups.