Rebel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Bishnu Prasad Sharma from Kurseong Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district has switched sides to the ruling Trinamool Congress. Sharma, who had been critical of the state BJP leadership for not addressing the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state, was welcomed by Trinamool leaders at the party’s state headquarters in Kolkata.
Sharma, known for his support of the Gorkhaland state demand, had protested within the Assembly premises multiple times. He even contested as an independent candidate in the 2024 elections after objecting to the renomination of the current BJP Lok Sabha member from Darjeeling. With Sharma’s move, the BJP’s strength in West Bengal has decreased to 64 seats.
After joining Trinamool, Sharma expressed his reasons for leaving the BJP, citing discomfort with the party’s communal politics and divisive slogans. He emphasized his decision to fight against what he described as anarchy in the country by aligning with the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
The Chief Whip of BJP’s legislative party in the Assembly downplayed Sharma’s departure, stating that it would not impact the party’s electoral prospects in the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections in the Darjeeling district.
