Kolkata: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP John Barla spotted at a public meeting of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Alipurduar in North Bengal sparking speculation that he might soon join Trinamool Congress (TMC).
When asked Barla about his presence, he mentioned that he attended the meeting as Mamata called him.
“The Chief Minister had called me so I visited and attended the programme. We all want to work freely,” mentioned the former BJP MP.
#WATCH | Former BJP MP John Barla says, "If we do not sit down with Dooars, their issues won't be resolved...They are facing a lot of issues, there are development issues. Unless we sit with them, the issues won't be resolved. If she (CM Mamata Banerjee) is inviting us, then this… pic.twitter.com/ejeSBdmLyg
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
#WATCH | Kolkata | On former BJP MP John Barla, West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "... John Barla is not a member of the BJP but a freelancer... This time Derek O'Brien has allied with him to form a new association under the registration done by Mamata… pic.twitter.com/m0rfFecMcH
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2025
Notably, In the 2019 Lok Sabha election Barla became the saffron camp’s MP from Alipurduar against TMC’s Dashrat Tirkey. In 2024 Lok Sabha elections Barla was not given a ticket to contest the elections and BJP’s Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga contested the seat and became the MP vacating the seat of Madarihat Assembly seat.
In a bypoll for Madarihat Assembly seat, TMC emerged victorious against BJP. Barla after becoming the MP was MoS of Minority Affairs.
A local TMC leader said that if Barla joins TMC then the ruling party will be stronger in that belt. “We (TMC) became strong and the same was reflected in the Madarihat bypoll. In future there will be more ‘Khela Hobe’. Barla is very popular in the tea garden belt,” said the local TMC leader.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said that Barla is not a factor as without Barla BJP has won the Alipurduar seat.
Meanwhile, addressing a public meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the ruling TMC government has opened 59 tea gardens and will also open more in future.