New Delhi: In a major political shift ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma resigned from the party and joined the Trinamool Congress on Thursday. Sharma currently represents the Kurseong Assembly constituency in Darjeeling district.
Sharma’s departure comes after months of visible friction with the BJP leadership. He had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction over the party’s approach to the long-standing Gorkhaland demand and claimed that the concerns of hill residents were not being addressed adequately. His criticism had been made public through speeches and interactions with local supporters, signalling a widening gap between him and the party.
Growing rift over Gorkhaland issue
For a considerable period, Sharma had voiced concerns that the BJP had failed to fulfil commitments related to the aspirations of people in the Darjeeling hills. The Gorkhaland demand has remained a sensitive political issue in the region for decades, influencing electoral outcomes and party strategies.
His strained ties with the BJP became more evident during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when he chose to contest as an independent candidate from Darjeeling. In that contest, he took on BJP nominee Raju Bista, further underlining his differences with the party’s central leadership.
Political realignment before 2026 elections
With the next Assembly elections scheduled for April and May 2026, Sharma’s move is being viewed by observers as a strategic repositioning. The tenure of the current West Bengal Legislative Assembly will conclude on 7 May 2026.
Reacting to the development, BJP chief whip in the Assembly, Shankar Ghosh, downplayed Sharma’s exit. He stated that Sharma did not have a strong support base in Kurseong and had not been in regular contact with the party for some time.
Electoral background
Bishnu Prasad Sharma was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly in May 2021 from the Kurseong constituency. In the 2021 Assembly polls, he defeated Tshering Lama Dahal of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha faction led by Binay Tamang by a margin of 15,515 votes.
The 2021 elections saw the Trinamool Congress return to power with a decisive mandate, securing 215 of the 294 seats in the Assembly. Mamata Banerjee was sworn in as Chief Minister for another term.
As political manoeuvring intensifies ahead of 2026, Sharma’s switch is likely to influence dynamics in the hill districts, where regional aspirations continue to shape electoral narratives.