Kolkata: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and former Union Minister John Barla on Thursday had defected to the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
After defecting to TMC, Barla questions the saffron camp about the actual reason for ‘halting’ development of people.
“I spoke to Didi, who too asked me to work for the people. When I became the minister, I would always face roadblocks when I wanted to work for the people. I wanted to make a Rs 160 crore hospital but present LoP Suvendu Adhikari blocked it. All work was done and the land was identified. We just had to sign the MoU. But a call went from here to the ministry, and the work was stopped. If development work is stopped by a party, who can work like this? Why should I be part of a party that stops work for the people? Tea garden workers had blessed the BJP but what did they get in return?” questioned the former BJP MP.
Notably, after winning the Alipurduars Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Barla was made the MoS of minority affairs. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP gave Manoj Tigga, party’s chief whip ticket instead of Barla. However, Tigga emerged victorious and the saffron camp could retain the Alipurduars seat.
After defecting to the ruling TMC, Barla stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee he can work for the benefit of the tribal people.
“She has done so much work for the tea gardens with schemes like Cha Sundari. Getting pattas [deeds] was a long-standing demand of the region since the Adivasi andolan of 2007. But today, we have finally got it. On the contrary, Adivasis are yet to get recognition in Assam. Amid this, how will I have faith that if there is a double-engine government here, they will work for us? Didi on the other hand, has done so much for us, from Duare Sarkar to Lakshmir Bhandar. So many tea garden workers are benefitting from this. In the coming days, I will surely talk to Didi about the other issues of the tea gardens. I will speak to her and we will work it out,” further mentioned Barla.
