Ex-Union Min John Barla shares stage with Mamata, sparks speculations of joining Trinamool

Alipurduar: Former Union minister and BJP leader John Barla shared the stage with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during an official event at the Subhashini Tea Garden in Alipurduar on Thursday, fueling speculation about his potential shift to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Although Barla did not confirm, his presence at the event and his comments have given a stamp to his joining TMC in future.

The event, held at the Subhashini Tea Garden grounds in Alipurduar, marked the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and included a government services distribution programme.

Barla, who was invited to the event, made a special effort to attend, flying in from Delhi, where his wife is undergoing treatment at AIIMS. On stage, Barla garlanded a portrait of Netaji and participated in the programme by presenting the Medhashree scholarship to a beneficiary, Afsan Ansari.

Speaking after the event, Barla lauded the Chief Minister while criticising the BJP and the Central government.

“I will announce when the time comes to join the Trinamool. As a resident of this state, Mamata Banerjee is my Chief Minister. I was invited to this official event, and I must say her government’s humanitarian projects are reaching the people. I feel honoured to have shared the stage with her today,” he said.

Barla further stated that he plans to discuss several key issues with the Chief Minister, including the stalled transport airport terminal at Hasimara Air Force Station due to land disputes, as well as the challenges faced by tea garden workers, including minimum wages.

He expressed confidence in the Chief Minister’s ability to address these concerns, adding: “The Central government has failed to deliver on its promises. Projects like MGNREGS and housing schemes have been halted even some projects sanctioned during my tenure as minister are halted. The BJP has neglected the tea gardens of North Bengal and I will speak more about these issues in the future.”

Barla’s political trajectory has been closely watched since he won the Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat in 2019 and served as a Union Minister. However, he was denied a ticket by the BJP in the 2024 general elections, with district president Manoj Tigga being nominated instead. This decision reportedly strained his relationship with the BJP leadership, and Barla has since distanced himself from party activities. His absence reportedly impacted the BJP’s performance in the Alipurduar Lok Sabha elections and the Madarihat Assembly by-election.

The BJP’s reduced winning margin in Alipurduar during the 2024 elections and its defeat in the Madarihat Assembly by-election has been partly attributed to the ‘John Barla factor’.

Trinamool Congress leaders believe Barla’s growing discontent with the BJP has played a role in the party’s declining performance in the region.

Though Barla remains non-committal about his crossing over to the BJP, his sharing of the stage with the Chief Minister and public praise for Mamata Banerjee is a clear signal of the possible shift.