Darjeeling, Sept. 3: Bimal Gurung has decided not to attend the tripartite talks to be held in New Delhi on September 8.

Gurung’s party, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, today announced the names of 19 delegates from seven political parties, which also includes the hill units of the Congress and BJP, ABGL and the CPRM.

Asked why Gurung was staying away from the meeting, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said: “He will go (to Delhi) at the right time.”

Although the invitation letter for the tripartite talks had not specified who would represent the state and the Centre, it was learnt that this round of discussion would be held at the secretary level. Sources said this was one reason why Gurung would not be heading the delegation.

Giri also said the discussions would be on Gorkhaland as the invitation said the meeting was being held “on Morcha demand”.

“We have only one demand and that is Gorkhaland,” said Giri. The delegation will also have Champa Bibhawar and Ram Prasad Begh as representatives of Adivasis from the Dooars and the Terai.

R. Moktan, the president of the Sikkim National Front, and Shakar Hang Subba, a central committee member of Gorkha Rastriya Congress, are also part of the team. The two Darjeeling based outfits were formed to demand the merger of the hills with Sikkim. Moktan said he wanted to bepart of the delegation as the ultimate aim of the Gorkhaland movement was separation from Bengal.

The 12 Morcha leaders who will be part of the Delhi team include representatives from Mirik, Kurseong and Kalimpong apart from Nari Morcha or the women’s wing convener Urmila Rumba.

Three central committee members — Amar Lama, Anmole Prasad and Pradip Pradhan — are currently camping in Delhi and trying to impress upon the national leaders to support the demand for Gorkhaland. The three will also be part of the Darjeeling delegation.

“Today, the leaders met defence minister A.K. Anthony. On August 27, they had met Sharad Pawar and the talks have been positive,” said Giri.

Number plate arrest

A Kurseong-based Maruti van with a “GL” number plate was intercepted by the Bagdogra Traffic Guard on Wednesday afternoon while it was taking passengers to the airport, reports our Siliguri correspondent.

The car has been seized and the driver Dhiraj Chhetry arrested, a senior official of the Bagdogra police station said. He added the driver had been persuaded by passengers to bail them out in an emergency situation and take them to the airport. The Morcha has made it mandatory for private vehicles to sport “GL” number plates instead of “WB”.