The Bimal Gurung camp of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has decided to prod chief minister Mamata Banerjee to start discussions on a “permanent political solution” for Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas.

“We want to move ahead with talks on permanent political solution with the state government. We want discussions to start,” said Roshan Giri, general secretary, Morcha (Gurung) camp.

The Gurung faction is talking about the provision in Article 244 A of the Constitution on autonomous state, sources said. “Our thoughts are big, but let us see how the discussion moves ahead,” Giri said.

Mamata, during her Assembly election campaign, said she would find a permanent political solution for the region, which many believed was to counter the BJP.

Giri's statement comes at a time when there is buzz in the hills whether Gurung's faction would contest the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration election if it is held by the state government.

Gurung has been hinting he is more interested in finding a permanent political solution for the region.His rivals, the Binay Tamang faction of the Morcha have no problem in contesting the GTA elections. Both the factions are allies of the Trinamul.

An observer said that the Gurung camp had not fared well in the last Assembly elections with all their three candidates coming third after the BJP and the Tamang camp. The Tamang camp also won the Kalimpong seat. “The Gurung camp is probably seeking relevance in hill politics,” the observer said.

There are more elections coming up. Four civic bodies in the hills are likely to go for elections in the next 8 months. Trinamul leaders in the hills are also pitching for panchayat elections, which were last held in 2005.

“If the Gurung camp does manage to initiate talks on a permanent political solution before these elections, it may make space for itself at dinner table talks in the hills,” said a hill resident.