Darjeeling, March 30: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to organise a string of rallies across the Darjeeling hills to strengthen the cry for Gorkhaland.

Analysts, on the other hand, believe that the processions to be brought out by several wings of the party are part of a strategy to retain its sway in the hills, especially since there has been no activity of late.

“After the success in stalling the Sixth Schedule bill from being passed in Parliament and forcing Subash Ghisingh to resign from the post of caretaker administrator of the DGHC, there has not been much political activity in recent times,” said an observer.

As part of its base-strengthening move, the Morcha has also put a restriction on visitors to its office in Singmari here, so that its central committee leaders reach out to the masses, especially in the villages.

Roshan Giri, the general secretary of the Morcha, while confirming that the rallies would start from April 8, said: “Bimal Gurung, the party president, will also tour different areas to meet our supporters and strengthen our base.”

While the party’s town committees from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong have been asked to organise a rally on April 8, the Morcha’s ex-servicemen supporters will bring out a procession the next day

According to an announcement made earlier, the party will hold a one-day token hunger strike on April 10 in Darjeeling district and the Dooars to counter the public convention being organised by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC). The SMC is against the Morcha demand of including the Siliguri subdivision in the proposed Gorkhaland map drawn up by the party.

The student wing of the Morcha will bring out a rally on April 11 followed by another on April 15 by the teachers’ organisation of the party.

“People from the minority communities have been helping us tremendously and they will bring out a rally on April 17,” said Giri.

The Morcha leader also stressed the need to meet the people instead of being holed up in office. “We should visit the villagers so that we listen to their problems in their own backyard. This way we will be able to meet more people and get to know about ground realities,” said Giri.

Keeping this in mind, the Morcha maintained that Gurung will meet his supporters at the party office between 10 am and 4pm on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. On other days, Gurung will tour the villages. Today, Morcha central committee members left for Jaldhaka in Kalimpong subdivision.