BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma Joins TMC Ahead of West Bengal Elections

BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma has defected to the ruling TMC ahead of West Bengal's assembly elections. Sharma, who previously ran as an Independent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, has been vocal about his support for Gorkhaland. His departure highlights ongoing political tensions in the region.

BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma has switched allegiance to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) just as assembly elections loom. The politician, who represents Kurseong, declared his new affiliation at the TMC headquarters in Kolkata.

Sharma, an advocate for a separate Gorkhaland state, contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate. His move stems from repeated dissatisfaction with the BJP's failure to meet regional aspirations despite prior promises for development in the Darjeeling Hills.

In response, BJP's chief whip in the assembly, Shankar Ghosh, downplayed Sharma's influence, asserting that he lacked a strong support base and had distanced himself from party affairs. With assembly elections approaching, Sharma's defection underscores the simmering political discord in West Bengal.