Morcha to chart strategies

TT, Darjeeling, March 26: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's central committee and Study Forum will meet in Kalimpong tomorrow to chalk out strategies for the Gorkhaland movement.

The meeting comes soon after the hill party claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given a commitment to the Morcha to start the process of creating a separate state.

A Morcha leader today told The Telegraph: "All members of the central committee and Study Forum have been asked to be present at Deolo, Kalimpong, at 1pm tomorrow for a meeting. The session will discuss further strategies on the statehood movement and ways to strengthen the party."

The Study Forum is the think tank of the Morcha.

Morcha president Bimal Gurung is currently camping in Kalimpong to strengthen the party ahead of the municipal polls.

"There have been a lot of developments of late. The opposition parties might say anything but the meeting with the Prime Minister on March 23 has been very encouraging for us. Besides, all proponents of smaller states have decided to organise a pan-Indian agitation," said the Morcha leader

Apart from the Morcha that seeks Gorkhaland, other organisations demanding Bodoland, Bundelkhand, Vidarbha, Purbanchal and Twipra Land have recently come together under the banner of the National Federation of Smaller States.

The federation has decided to hold a series of movements to press for the creation of small states.

Observers said the Morcha leaders would have to seriously mull over strengthening the party as Trinamul was making inroads into the hills of late.

Just a few days back, Trinamul wrestled the student union of Bijanbari Degree College from the Morcha. Apart from the electoral success in campus politics, Trinamul has also been able to draw in many Morcha leaders and supporters to its fold.

Mamata Banerjee is also scheduled to visit Mirik on March 30 and declare it as a new subdivision.

"The most worrisome aspect for the Morcha is that people from different walks of life like lawyers and teachers are joining Trinamul now. Many beneficiaries of the 15 development boards that the state government has created are also with the ruling party now," said an observer.