Former BJP MP & Union Minister John Barla joins the Trinamool Congress (TMC)

KOLKATA: Former Union Minister John Barla joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on May 15, 2025, after leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), giving a significant blow to the BJP in West Bengal. Barla, who served as a Minister of State for Minority Affairs in the Modi government formed in 2019, claimed that the BJP did not allow him to work for the welfare of tribal communities.

After officially joining TMC, Barla stated, “While in the BJP, I was not permitted to work for the interests of tribal people. I am confident that under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, I will be able to do justice to the interests of the tribal population.”

Barla was elected as a BJP MP from Alipurduar, West Bengal, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. However, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP replaced him with Manoj Tigga as its candidate from Alipurduar, a decision Barla openly expressed dissatisfaction with. Tigga, previously the chief whip in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, won the election. Following the ticket denial, Barla distanced himself from the BJP’s West Bengal leadership, fueling speculation about his next political move. His switch to TMC is seen as a major setback for the BJP.

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