Kurseong BJP MLA B.P. Sharma has announced a mass contact programme on Gorkhaland and accused the party’s legislators in Bengal, including those in the Darjeeling region, and the Centre for dilly-dallying on the issue.

“When the Bengal Assembly passed a motion against the division of the state (in February), our (BJP) legislators were in favour of a united Bengal. This is contrary to the commitments (made by the BJP in the election manifesto),” said Sharma.

The Kurseong MLA had demanded a referendum when he spoke before the motion was passed in the Assembly.

But Sharma said he had received instructions from a “senior BJP leader” not to speak on the issue merely 10 minutes before his speech. “I, however, went ahead withmy speech and stressed the need for a referendum on the issue in this region,” Sharma told a news conference on Friday.

The BJP had promised a “permanent political solution” for the region and Sharma said he was sure that it meant the separation from Bengal.

Announcing the “jan samprak programme,” the Kurseong MLA said: “From Sunday, I will visit various places in the Darjeeling hills, the Terai and the Dooars, seeking people’s opinion on how I should go ahead with my politics.”