BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma has filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat, citing dissatisfaction with the party's decision not to field a local candidate from the region. Sharma had previously urged the BJP leadership to select a local candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls but was disappointed when the party named Raju Bista as its candidate for the hill region.
Expressing his discontentment with the party's decision, Sharma criticized the selection of Raju Bista as an 'outsider' for the Darjeeling constituency, emphasizing the importance of having a 'bhumiputra' (son of the soil) represent Darjeeling.
Despite choosing to contest independently, Sharma clarified that he would not relinquish his membership in the BJP.
Raju Bista, who previously won from Darjeeling by a significant margin in 2019, was named as the BJP's candidate for the constituency in the latest candidate list published by the party.
Sharma affirmed his decision to run as an independent candidate, expressing readiness to face any consequences from the party. He has been a vocal advocate for the creation of a separate state, Gorkhaland, since his election to the state Assembly in 2021.
West Bengal is gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, scheduled in seven phases starting from April 19. The state is poised for a significant electoral battle involving the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, the BJP, and other political parties.
