Kurseong BJP MLA B.P. Sharma (Bajgain) has said he will file his nomination on Saturday to contest against the party's nominee and sitting MP Raju Bista in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency.

“I will file my nomination papers for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat tomorrow (Saturday). I had said earlier that I would contest the election if an outsider was given a ticket by the party,” Bajgain said on Friday.

The Kurseong MLA considers sitting BJP MP Raju Bista an “outsider.” Bista is a native of Manipur and his in-laws are from the Darjeeling district.

Bajgain’s decision comes when Bimal Gurung’s Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and other organisations are currently holding meetings regarding the Lok Sabha elections. Bajgain had met Gurung in Darjeeling recently and attended a meeting convened by the Morcha and other like-minded organisations.

Bajgain said during his meeting with Gurung, the Morcha president had said he was committed to the Gorkhaland demand.

“During my meeting with Bimal Gurung, daju told me that in 2020, he had said while he was supporting the Trinamul Congress in 2021 (in the Bengal Assembly elections), he would, however, back someone who highlighted the Gorkhaland cause in the 2024 (general) election,” said Bajgain.

The Kurseong MLA said that “he had been consistently raising the Gorkhaland issue”.

“I raised the issue four times in the Assembly. I am in touch with other leaders from across the country who want smaller states. I am also in touch with leaders in north Bengal who want to separate from Bengal," said Bajgain, adding that “Parliament was the appropriate place to raise the issue rather than the Assembly”.

Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri said the party had not yet taken any decision regarding the Lok Sabha elections.

“Party leaders held a meeting today (Friday) also. We discussed various issues. Our party president will soon take a decision,” said Giri.

Bajgain categorically stated that he would resign neither from the BJP nor the Assembly.

BJP insiders said the party was closely monitoring Bajgain’s activities.