Rebel BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma joined the All India Trinamool Congress on Thursday, weeks before the West Bengal Assembly elections.
The first-time legislator from Kurseong switched sides at the party headquarters in Kolkata, signalling political churn in the Darjeeling Hills ahead of polls expected within the next two months.
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He was formally welcomed by Education Minister Bratya Basu and Industry Minister Shashi Panja.
‘BJP Made Promises but Did Nothing’
Explaining his decision, Sharma criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party for failing to deliver on its commitments in the Hills.
“I was elected by my Gorkha brothers and sisters, but I have not been able to work for them. The BJP made promises but did nothing. There was no real work on the ground,” he said.
He added that he would now work for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “development model.”
Sharma has consistently supported the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, arguing that the Hills require focused administrative attention and development.
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At times, he also raised the pitch for a separate North Bengal state, saying regional aspirations were not being adequately addressed.
In the past, he publicly criticised the BJP and even staged a demonstration outside the Assembly over what he described as inaction on the Gorkhaland issue.
Political Background and 2024 Lok Sabha Bid
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sharma contested as an Independent candidate from Darjeeling, branding himself as the “son-of-the-soil.” However, the attempt did not gain momentum, and sitting BJP MP Raju Bista retained the seat.
Reacting to the development, BJP chief whip in the Assembly Shankar Ghosh dismissed the move as inconsequential.
“His joining the TMC will have no impact on the BJP in the Hills,” Ghosh claimed, adding that Sharma had not been in touch with the party for a long time and had limited support in his constituency.
Assembly Polls Around the Corner
Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are expected within two months, as the term of the current House expires in May.
With the Darjeeling Hills often emerging as a politically sensitive region, Sharma’s switch adds a fresh dimension to the contest in North Bengal.
