Eight political parties and organisations based in north Bengal announced the formation of a common forum here on Monday to push their statehood demand.

The forum, named the United Front for Separate State (UFSS), was formed at a meeting held on the outskirts of Siliguri.

Those who have joined the forum are the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha led by Bimal Gurung, the Kamtapur Progressive Party, Kamtapur the Peoples’ Party (United), a faction of the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association, the Jay Birsa Munda Ulganam, the SC ST OBC Movement Committee, the Akhil Bharatiya Rajbanshi Samaj and the Bhumiputra United Party.

“We have formed an eight-member core committee with a representative from each organisation. The committee will chalk out programmes for the UFSS to press for our longstanding demand through democratic movements. Once the festivities are over, we will take up political activities across the region,” said Uttam Roy, the spokesperson of the UFSS.

Adhir Roy of the Kamtapur Progressive Party was selected as chairperson of the committee. Dipendra Niraula of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has been nominated as its coordinator.

Most of these parties and organisations have their own statehood demands. The Morcha wants Gorkhaland. The Rajbanshi outfits want Kamtapur or Greater Cooch Behar state.

Bimal Gurung, the Morcha president, who was present at the meeting, said they would continue to strive for their individual political aspirations.

“We have formed a united forum to work collectively for the demand of statehood. Soon, the forum will submit memorandums to the state and the central governments, seeking appointments for talks on the issue. We want to know what plans both these governments have regarding the eight parliamentary constituencies of north Bengal where the demand has been raised time and again,” said Gurung.

Trinamul, which is principally against any further division of Bengal, has reacted sharply to the new forum.

“It seems the BJP is trying to play divisive politics again by stoking the sentiments of these people and instigating them to rake up the issue again as the Lok Sabha polls are ahead. Such strategies of the saffron camp will not work,” said a senior Trinamul leader in Siliguri.

BJP leaders denied the charge. “Our lawmakers are vocal against the state government for apathy towards north Bengal. But we have no connection with these parties or the new forum,” a north Bengal BJP leader said.