Ahead of the Assembly elections, the BJP suffered a major setback when senior leader and Kurseong MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma switched sides to join the TMC, ending a long-standing rebellion within the party. He joined the ruling party at Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata on Thursday.
Sharma, who had been a vocal supporter of a separate Gorkhaland state, had been at loggerheads with the BJP for some time. Sharma, who was elected MLA for the first time on a BJP ticket in the 2021 Assembly elections, had contested the 2024 Parliament elections as an independent candidate against Darjeeling BJP MP Raju Bista.
He has also accused the BJP of ignoring the Darjeeling Hills and their development. He had repeatedly expressed displeasure with the BJP, claiming that despite assurances of fulfilling regional expectations, the party had failed to deliver on the ground. Sharma had also sought a referendum
Despite his differences with the party, he has been maintaining a close contact with the state’s Opposition leader and BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari, who personally arranged for Sharma’s treatment while he was unwell. Suvendhu had said then that though Sharma was upset with the party leadership, he would not go to the TMC.
#WATCH | Kolkata | BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma from Kurseong Assembly Constituency joins TMC ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections. pic.twitter.com/rH1MOAot4h
— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026
Sources told Anandbazaar Patrika that for the past year, Vishnu Prasad had not entered the BJP's legislative party room in the Assembly. When questioned by journalists, he would say, "I will not go near those with whom I do not share my views." He used to sit with the BJP's legislative party in the Assembly session but kept away from the BJP programmes.
His switch to the TMC will cost the BJP dearly during the upcoming Rajya Sabha Elections, which are due next month. The number of BJP MLAs in the state has come down to 64. Rajya Sabha MPs are elected based on the votes of the MLAs.
The Assembly elections in the state are imminent, and Trinamool had again caused a split in the BJP camp even before that.
Regarding Bishnu Prasad's switch, Shankar Ghosh, the chief convenor of the BJP's parliamentary party, said, "He had isolated himself from the party for several days. Our MP Raju Vishara stood against him and did not even get 7,000 votes. It will be interesting to know what promises Trinamool gave him to lure him to the party. Trinamool and Bishnu Babu will sink together in the 2026 Assembly elections. We will win every seat in the Darjeeling district and Kurseong. His departure has not harmed the BJP politically.
