John Barla refuses to relent as BJP fields MLA Manoj Tigga from Alipurduar seat
Telegraph | 7 March 2024
A drama unfolded on the premises of Madarihat railway station in Alipurduar district on Wednesday as local MP John Barla continued to vent his ire on the party's Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga.
Barla, the sitting Alipurduar MP and the Union minister of state, hasn't been renominated by the BJP this time. Instead, the BJP declared Tigga as the candidate from Alipurduar.
Barla was at the Madarihat station to attend a programme organised by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). When Barla spotted Tigga on the dais, the Alipurduar MP took a seat in the audience and refused to share the stage with the local MLA.
While Barla and Tigga were walking to a room at the station with railway officials, the MP openly aired his grievance.
“I will not talk to him (Tigga) unless he pulls out of the fray. He had told me that he would ensure a margin of 60,000 votes for me in the Lok Saha polls from Madarihat (Assembly segment) and now, he is the candidate. He has betrayed me and I will not talk to him,” said Barla, with Tigga seated near him.
The railway officials tried to dissuade Barla but the MP went on ranting that it was because of some state BJP leaders that he had been denied a ticket.
After some time, Barla left for his residence on Lakhipara tea estate in Banarhat block of Jalpaiguri district.
Earlier in the day, Tigga, along with Falakata MLA and a state BJP secretary Deepak Barman, went to Barla’s residence to placate his grievance. However, sources said, Barla refused to meet them and the duo left after sipping tea offered by the MP's family members.
Contacted, Tigga said: “The allegations levelled by John Barla against me are baseless. Let me reassert that it is the central election committee of the party which selects the candidates (for the Lok Sabha polls). We don’t have the say."
Trinamul feelers
The Trinamul Congress has put out feelers to Barla after the Alipurduar MP openly criticised the leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, and Tigga on Tuesday, said sources.
“He (Barla) wants to contest from Alipurduar on a Trinamul ticket. We have clarified that it is not possible but, if he joins the party, he can be given important responsibilities in due course. He has asked for some time,” said a Trinamul insider.
A section of Trinamul leaders feels that if Barla joins the party, the organisation and the trade union will get a boost in the tribal and Gorkha belts of the Dooars.
“He has good equations with many Trinamul leaders in the Dooars. His induction can help us draw votes in the Assembly segments where we trailed in 2019 and 2021 (Assembly polls),” said a Trinamul functionary.
Asked if he would join Trinamul, Barla said: "I am still in the BJP. I have not taken any decision so far.”
Mahua Gope, the Jalpaiguri district Trinamul president, said: “Our state leaders can say what the party is thinking about John Barla. I am not in a position to comment on it.”