The Minister for Urban Development, Ashok Bhattacharya, represents Siliguri Assembly constituency and is one of the most vocal critic of the GJM.

Considering his bitter opposition to the demand of separate statehood, the GJM had last week even threatened to boycott the March 18 talks if Bhattacharya represents the state government at the meeting.

“I and (Minister for Health and Family Welfare) Surya Kanta Misra will represent the state government at the next (tripartite) talks. I will meet the chief minister and discuss the agenda,” Bhattacharya told The Indian Express over phone.

Earlier this week, Bhattacharya had confirmed the participation of two ministers at the talks, but at the same time had ruled out his presence saying, “I am their (GJM’s) enemy number one. So I don’t think I will be there.”

But on Sunday, a combative Bhattacharya questioned GJM’s “authority” in laying down the conditions on “who should represent the state government”.

“Who are they (GJM) to decide who will represent the state government? Shall we decide who will represent the GJM or who will represent the Union government? In all these cases it is the respective leaders who will decide on it,” said Bhattacharya. Asked about the reason for Misra’s selection, Bhattacharya replied: “It is because he is one of the senior ministers and a good negotiator.”

The GJM, on the other hand, refused to comment on it. “Let us see who is representing whom. We will see the official communication first and then will make our stand public,” said Roshan Giri, GJM general secretary.