Kolkata, Feb 19: In a significant political development ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Kurseong MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma on Thursday joined the ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), delivering a blow to the BJP in the politically sensitive Darjeeling hills.
Sharma, a vocal advocate of Gorkhaland statehood, formally entered the party fold at Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata in the presence of senior TMC leaders. His switch comes amid mounting political activity in the state as parties gear up for the upcoming polls.
Announcing his decision, Sharma said, “My decision to join the TMC today is rooted in a deep commitment to development… I have not joined the TMC to get a ticket.” He further asserted, “Even if the party does not give me the ticket… I will remain in this party.”
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Sharma accused it of failing to deliver on the long-pending Gorkhaland demand. “For the past 17 years, the Gorkha people have been living in darkness. The BJP is showing them a torch and calling it the Sun. Should I play the politics of jumla with my electorate?” he remarked, alleging that the party had misled the hills with symbolic gestures rather than substantive action.
He also criticised what he termed “communal politics” within the BJP, saying, “I believe humanity is the only religion, yet I was forced to indulge in communal politics in the BJP.” Praising West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, Sharma declared, “Mamata Banerjee is the only leader who can challenge today’s degrading nationwide politics. Now, I will work as per Didi as she is my leader now.”
Welcoming Sharma into the party, TMC minister Shashi Panja said there was “a wide gap between what the BJP says and what it does,” adding that several of his pending development projects would now be implemented.
The BJP, however, downplayed the defection. Chief whip Shankar Ghosh claimed Sharma had minimal grassroots support and said, “His joining the TMC will have no political impact. In 2026, both he and the TMC will sink together.” Senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha accused him of “betraying the people of the Hills.”
Meanwhile, the BJP has intensified its preparations for the 2026 Assembly elections with its manifesto outreach drive, “Bikosito Paschim Banga Sankalp Patra, Paramarsha Sangraha Abhiyan.” The campaign, aimed at collecting public suggestions on governance and development, has reportedly received over 2.5 lakh responses so far and focuses on employment generation, curbing corruption, and bringing migrant workers back home.
Assembly elections in 2026 are scheduled in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry, with the Election Commission of India expected to announce the official schedule in due course.
