BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma Joins Trinamool Congress Ahead of Bengal Assembly Polls

In a significant political development ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Bishnu Prasad Sharma from Kurseong in North Bengal formally joined the Trinamool Congress on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

Sharma, who had increasingly distanced himself from the Bharatiya Janata Party, was inducted into the ruling party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Trinamool Bhavan in Kolkata. The induction ceremony took place in the presence of state ministers Shashi Panja and Bratya Basu.

Addressing supporters following his induction, Sharma said, “I would first like to address the people of Kurseong who elected me. When the last Vidhan Sabha session concluded, I announced that I am a free bird. I have not disrespected the mandate of the people. Some will criticise my decision; I do not care much about such criticism. I will try to fulfil your dream of a better society and a better future. Mamata Banerjee is the only leader who can challenge today’s degrading nationwide politics.”

He further stated, “I believe humanity is the only religion, yet I was forced to indulge in communal politics and raise communal slogans… Every year, elections take place in different states across the country. BJP’s central leaders remain occupied with managing those polls. If all their time is spent on elections, when will they find the time to work for the country?”
Clarifying that his move was not motivated by electoral considerations, Sharma added, “I have not joined the TMC for a ticket. Even if the party does not give me a ticket, you will see me in TMC.”
Sharma has been openly critical of the BJP for nearly two years. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he contested as an Independent candidate in protest against the BJP’s decision to renominate Raju Bista for the Darjeeling constituency, a move that further widened the rift between him and the party leadership.

Explaining the rationale behind his decision, Sharma told reporters, “My decision to join the TMC today (Thursday) is rooted in a deep commitment to development, not a disregard for the mandate of the people. Over the last five years, I have witnessed the resilience of this state; despite the withholding of central funds, progress has never stalled. This experience has made it clear that in today’s political landscape, there is only one leader with the vision and strength to navigate these challenges, and it is Mamata Banerjee.”

He also criticised the BJP’s approach to the Gorkhaland issue, stating, “Should I play the politics of jumla with my electorate? The BJP will do nothing for the Gorkhas. They have sent an interlocutor – IPS officer Pankaj Kumar – but he does not have an appointment letter from the Home Ministry. He comes and stays in a private hotel. His bills are being paid by Darjeeling MP Raju Bista. The interlocutor does not have an official phone number. He does not have a personal secretary. He does not have a contact address. No public hearing has taken place. The interlocutor has been sent only before elections to mislead the Gorkhas once again. Darjeeling cannot be developed by placing faith in the BJP.”

Welcoming Sharma into the party, Panja remarked, “We welcome his decision. It was evident that he (Sharma) often felt uncomfortable in the Legislative Assembly, as the BJP failed to participate in logical discussions and constructive politics. On several occasions, when BJP MLAs staged walkouts, he chose to remain seated.
“He is an important Gorkha leader, a farmer, and someone deeply connected to the grassroots of North Bengal. Many of his long-pending projects are now going to be materialised. There is a wide gap between what the BJP says and what it does, and he has clearly understood this reality.”

Despite Sharma’s growing estrangement from the BJP, he had maintained cordial ties with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who had once arranged medical assistance for him during an illness and had publicly expressed confidence that Sharma would not join the TMC.

For over a year, Sharma kept his distance from the BJP’s organisational activities. Although he continued to sit with the BJP legislative group during Assembly sessions, he avoided party meetings and refrained from participating in official programmes, signalling his eventual departure from the party.​