On December 21, at the tripartite talks held at Darjeeling among representatives of the state government, the Centre and the GJM, the Morcha demanded that they wanted the next level of talks to be held at the political level. The Morcha was to be informed of the Centre and the state’s decision within 45 days.

“No decision has been taken on whether the talks would be held at the political level or not, discussions are still on,” said Ashok Bhattacharya, Minister for Urban Development, who is from Siliguri.

Roshan Giri, the Morcha spokesman, however, told The Indian Express from Darjeeling: “We have received a message from the Union Home Ministry that they have agreed to political level talks. The deadline will end in the first week of February and we are awaiting a concrete decision.”

He said the relay hunger strike — going on at five to six places — and other agitation programmes will continue. “The offices of the state government, too, will remain closed,” Giri said.

The state government, meanwhile, has no plans to ban the Gorkhaland Police (GLP) — the volunteer force of GJM which has almost replaced the Darjeeling police for maintaining law and order — said Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen.