Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma joined the TMC led by CM Mamata Banerjee. Explaining his move, Sharma said he didn't want to indulge in "jumla politics" and claimed the BJP would do nothing for the Gorkhas. Reacting to the development, BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh said, "Rebel MLA Sharma...think he was beyond the party."