John Barla arrives in Siliguri ahead of meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee

PRASHANT ACHARYA

SILIGURI,: Former BJP Union Minister of State John Barla arrived at Bagdogra Airport on Wednesday from New Delhi to attend a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Alipurduar on Thursday.

Barla, a veteran leader from the Dooars region, is speculated to join Trinamool Congress (TMC). However, he remained tight-lipped about his decision, saying, “The future will decide. I received an invitation from the Chief Minister, and I should respect her invitation. That’s why I decided to attend the meeting in Alipurduar tomorrow.”

Barla, who had been in New Delhi for eye treatment, flew to Bagdogra following a verbal invitation from the Chief Minister to attend the meeting scheduled for January 23, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The former BJP minister expressed his dissatisfaction with the BJP’s decision to field Manoj Tigga as their candidate for the Alipurduar Lok Sabha seat. Barla, who won the seat in 2019, has since distanced himself from the party, blaming leaders such as Suvendu Adhikari and Tigga for side-lining him.

Speaking to media at Bagdogra, Barla criticized the BJP, stating, “The Dooars region remains underdeveloped due to unfulfilled promises by the central government. Hospitals, infrastructure, and major projects promised in the election manifesto never materialized. I was betrayed by some prominent BJP leaders from Bengal.”

When asked if he plans to join the TMC, Barla said, “That is my future plan. As of now, no decision has been made. There are pressing issues in the Dooars, such as closed tea gardens, lack of airports, and inadequate healthcare. I have yet to meet the Chief Minister to share these problems. Tomorrow, I will discuss everything with her. The solutions for the Dooars lie in the Chief Minister’s hands.”

Political experts predict Barla’s move to the TMC will be announced on Thursday with the Chief Minister viewing him as a key figure in securing tribal votes from the Dooars region in the upcoming elections. Notably, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had a 45,000-vote lead in Nagarkata, but by 2024, the TMC had overtaken them by 3,500 votes.

TMC leaders believe that declining tribal support for the BJP in the Dooars is partly due to Barla’s alienation from the party. His anticipated shift to the TMC is expected to bolster the party’s position in the region.