Darjeeling, March 28: The joint movement to carve separate states out of Bengal must wait while the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the Atul Roy faction of the Kamptapuri People’s Party (KPP) and the Greater Cooch Behar Democratic Party (GCBDP) tackle the task of consolidating their support base in the region.

Leaders of the three parties met in Singmari on Wednesday and decided to support each other’s demands, principal among which are separate states of Gorkhaland and Greater Cooch Behar.

While the Morcha holds sway on the Darjeeling hills, it is yet to penetrate into the Siliguri subdivision and the Dooars, which are part of its proposal for Gorkhaland.

“The joint meeting (of the three parties) will be held soon, but first, we will go ahead with our one-day token hunger strike across the district on April 10,” said Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.

On that day, the CPM-controlled Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) is set to organise a civic convention in the trade hub to discuss the Morcha’s demand of including Siliguri in Gorkhaland. The SMC is against the demand.

After April 10, Morcha chief Bimal Gurung and other central committee leaders will camp in the Dooars for 12 days and hold six public meetings.

Atul Roy said the KPP would start with a 72-hour general strike in north Bengal and lower Assam after board exams are over. The GCBDP will start a “democratic movement” if its 54 political prisoners are not released, said party president Ashutosh Barma.

The Morcha has reacted strongly to Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya’s statement about “insurgent groups” taking advantage of the situation in the hills. “We are not separatists. We are making a legitimate demand within the framework of the Constitution. Bhattacharya should stop issuing irresponsible comments,” said the Morcha general secretary.

State home secretary A.K. Chakraborti arrived here today to take stock of the situation in the hills.