John Barla joins TMC | In a major political shift ahead of the West Bengal Assembly bypolls, former Union Minister and ex-BJP MP from Alipurduars, John Barla, formally joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday, alleging that the BJP leadership repeatedly obstructed his efforts to serve tribal communities and tea garden workers in north Bengal.
Barla, who served as Minister of State for Minority Affairs under the Modi government after his 2019 Lok Sabha win, was denied a BJP ticket in the 2024 general elections, prompting a bitter fallout with the state unit. His induction into the TMC comes in the presence of senior party leaders Subrata Bakshi and Aroop Biswas at the TMC headquarters in Kolkata.
‘BJP Blocked My Work for the People’: Barla
Barla minced no words in his public criticism of the BJP. “If development work for the people is stopped by the party itself, why should I continue in it? Every time I tried to deliver for the people, I was blocked by the leadership,” he said after formally joining Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
Barla cited the example of a ₹160 crore hospital project meant for the region’s tribal and tea garden population, which he claims was shelved due to political sabotage.
“All formalities, including land identification, were done. We just had to sign the MoU. But Suvendu Adhikari, the current Leader of the Opposition, got it blocked. A call was made from Bengal to Delhi, and the project died,” he alleged.
Fallout Over Ticket Denial and Regional Discontent
In 2024, the BJP replaced Barla with Manoj Tigga, the party’s legislative chief whip, as its candidate for the Alipurduars Lok Sabha seat. Tigga eventually won, but Barla’s public discontent widened rifts within the party.
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Barla’s exit is being seen as a significant loss for the BJP in north Bengal, especially in constituencies with a heavy tribal and tea worker presence, where he had considerable grassroots influence.
Political analysts suggest that Barla’s estrangement from the BJP leadership may have damaged the party’s prospects in last year’s Madarihat assembly bypoll, which the TMC won, reportedly due to disunity over candidate selection.
TMC Welcomes Barla, Hints at Key Role
Welcoming Barla into the party, the TMC posted on X (formerly Twitter): “With his experience and grassroots connect, especially in Alipurduar and among tea garden workers, we are confident he will play a meaningful role in strengthening our fight for people’s rights.”
Barla, who once controversially advocated for carving out a Union Territory in north Bengal—a stance that drew fierce criticism from the TMC—now appears aligned with Mamata Banerjee’s vision of inclusive regional development.
“I thank the Chief Minister for giving me a platform where I can truly serve the people. She asked me months ago to come forward, and today I am ready to work,” Barla said.
His move is expected to have electoral and strategic implications, as the TMC seeks to make further inroads into the tribal and tea garden vote bank ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
