The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha’s decision to get BJP leader Jaswant Singh elected from Darjeeling seems to be paying off as senior Morcha leaders will accompany him for a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh next week.

Though the meeting will primarily focus on the relief measures in the hills, where over 20 people died in the recent landslides, the Morcha is open to any discussion, including their statehood demand.

“A GJM delegation will accompany Singh. I cannot say when or who will be going. The details will be made clear on June 13,” said Roshan Giri, general secretary of the GJM.

The meeting assumes significance as it stands apart from the ongoing tripartite talks being held between the Centre, West Bengal government and the GJM.

Giri said the delegation’s focus will be on the devastation caused by Cyclone Aila. “We want to focus on relief. If the Gorkhaland issue comes up, we will discuss that too,” he added.

Sources in the party said Jaswant Singh had recently taken up the issue of the damages with the Prime Minister. Besides seeking assistance for landslide victims from Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, he had also raised the issue with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, asking for the release of special funds for a natural calamity for Darjeeling.

Singh has also requested for the inclusion of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong in projects under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.