Bishnu Prasad Sharma, the BJP MLA from Kurseong, declared his candidacy for the Lok Sabha elections in Darjeeling as an independent candidate, citing the party's failure to field a local candidate from the region. Despite Sharma's appeals to the BJP leadership for a candidate representing the local populace, Raju Bista was named as the party's candidate for Darjeeling.
Expressing disappointment with this decision, Sharma emphasized the importance of having a "son of the soil" candidate who could address the region's issues, including the demand for a separate state. Referring to Bista as an outsider, Sharma announced his decision to contest the election independently to champion the concerns of the people.
Raju Bista, who secured victory in Darjeeling by a significant margin in 2019, was nominated by the BJP in its recent candidate list. However, Sharma remains steadfast in his advocacy for Gorkhaland, a separate state, a cause he has actively supported since his election to the state Assembly in 2021.
Despite potential repercussions from the party, Sharma affirmed his decision to run as an independent candidate, underscoring the unresolved issues faced by Darjeeling despite years of BJP representation. He pointed out that despite the BJP's electoral dominance in the region for over a decade, the aspirations of the local population remain unaddressed, especially with an MP perceived as an outsider.
