New Delhi, Apr 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has assured help to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on its movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland in Darjeeling hills and adjoining areas.

Some members of the GJM met BJP prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani on Thursday and pledged their support to the BJP in different districts of West Bengal.

"Till now, only the BJP has spoken about making a small state for Gorkhas in India. So, we will support the BJP in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Kuch Bihar. In future, we are hopeful that the BJP will sympathise with our demands and help us," GJM leader Vimal Gurung told reporters after meeting Advani.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India- Marxist (CPM) leader Jibesh Sarkar said both the Congress and the BJP were competing to gain support of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha and finally it was the BJP which had won the battle.

Sarkar believes the CPM will make sure that their state wouldn't be divided, no matter whichever party supports the Gorkhas.

"Both Congress and the BJP are trying to take their dividends by encashing the sentiments of the people from the hills. Our party, our left fronts are always opposing the division of our state. We want to say firmly that we were together, are together and will remain together," Sarkar said. (ANI)