Kurseong BJP MLA joins Trinamool ahead of Bengal polls in presence of Shashi Panja and Bratya Basu

'Rebel' BJP MLA from Kurseong, Bishnu Prasad Sharma, has formally joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Sharma, who had been at odds with the BJP leadership for years, arrived at the Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata on Thursday afternoon to officially register his name with the ruling party. His defection is seen as a blow to the saffron camp’s organizational strength in the Darjeeling hills.

The primary reason behind Sharma’s shift was the BJP’s perceived inaction regarding his persistent demand for the partition of Bengal. A staunch advocate for a separate state for North Bengal, Sharma believed that only administrative separation could bring true development to the hilly regions. While the BJP had hinted at addressing these regional grievances during previous elections, Sharma grew frustrated with the lack of practical progress, often expressing his anger openly in the Assembly and even protesting through dharnas.

The TMC leadership is keen to leverage Sharma’s influence to strengthen its base in the Darjeeling and Kurseong belt. Bishnu Prasad Sharma won the Kurseong seat in 2021 on a BJP ticket, but his relationship with the party soured as he became increasingly vocal about the "separate state" issue.