Rebel BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma joined the Trinamul Congress in Kolkata on Thursday, marking a significant political shift ahead of the Assembly elections.
Sharma, who was earlier a spokesperson of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party prior to the 2021 Assembly elections. A prominent face in the Gorkhaland movement, he remained vocal after his election victory, repeatedly pressing for the implementation of promises made in the BJP’s manifesto, including a Permanent Political Solution for the hills, as well as issues concerning Darjeeling, Terai, and Dooars.
However, his growing differences with BJP leadership, including Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, gradually widened the rift. Despite his open criticism and dissent, the BJP refrained from taking disciplinary action, reportedly adopting a cautious approach at a time when several party MLAs had switched allegiance to the TMC after the formation of the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
Over the past two years, Sharma had increasingly functioned independently within the BJP, often targeting the party on key hill issues. Political observers note that while the BJP leadership maintained a stance of silence, Sharma too did not resign from his MLA position, resulting in what many describe as a “mutual separation” in political terms.
Following the last session of the Legislative Assembly, his association with the BJP had largely become nominal. Although elected on a BJP ticket, Sharma’s core political identity continued to be rooted in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. Notably, he has now formally aligned with the TMC through the Morcha.
Sharma has consistently accused the BJP of betraying the Gorkhaland cause by failing to deliver on its commitments. With his new political alignment, attention now turns to whether the TMC will address his long-standing demand for a resolution to the issue.