Former Union min Barla joins TMC, slams Suvendu for ‘obstruction’ bids
Times of India | 16 May 2025
Kolkata: Former junior Union minority affairs minister John Barla on Thursday quit BJP to join Trinamool Congress. The north Bengal neta attacked Bengal leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari for obstructing his work for the benefit of the region, including setting up a 1,000-bed hospital.Barla had distanced himself from BJP after he was denied a ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha. He had joined BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and won the Alipurduar LS seat. He was rewarded with a ministerial berth shortly after the 2021 assembly polls.Barla, flanked by TMC state president Subrata Bakshi and state power minister Aroop Biswas, told reporters on Thursday: "I am joining TMC because I want to work for the people. Before 2014, there was no one to raise a BJP flag. I helped the party win, but we have not been able to serve people. While Rs 1,000 crore was approved by Centre for the welfare of tea workers, we never received the funds. All BJP does is blame state govt, refusing to act itself."Barla added, "I don't want to participate in politics where I am obstructed at every step. I wanted to build a hospital with Rs 160 crore in collaboration with the railways but faced opposition from my own party. I couldn't accomplish anything in the region due to constant interference from Suvendu Adhikari. He wrote a letter to Centre to stop funds.""Suvendu wants to push others aside to get ahead, he aims to become the CM himself," Barla went on to say and accused BJP of betraying the people of north Bengal and trying to hit communal harmony in the state.Barla thanked CM Mamata Banerjee for the respect she showed him. "Didi called me many times. I told her I want to work for my constituency, and that's why I'm here. I have some pain in my heart, which I will share with you all someday... Adivasis are not allowed to speak. We do not get respect," he said."I thank the CM for providing land lease here. Tribal status has been granted here. In Assam and many other places where there is a double-engine govt, tribal status has not been granted to tea workers. There are 1 crore adivasis in Assam, and they haven't received tribal status," Barla added.Reacting to Barla's decision to join TMC, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said: "People are aware of the development done by TMC, especially in North Bengal. John Barla had tried to score an own goal but failed... Manoj Tigga got elected from Alipurduar. May Barla be well and happy. If he contests against BJP in the assembly, we will send him on a break to keep him happy for a longer time."Bhattacharya added, "Adhikari is a natural leader and attacking him only means he is very relevant."