By Tirthankar Mitra
KOLKATA: North Bengal has not been a happy hunting ground for All India Trinamool Congress even when it replaced CPI(M)-led Left Front government in 2011 and several years thereafter. The northern part of the state continued to be under BJP hegemony but the TMC inroads post 2019 Lok Sabha elections and last year’s polls also, have breached the saffron fortress’s defence when former BJP MP and Union minister John Barla switched loyalty from BJP to the Trinamool Congress early this week.
It has been a decade-plus period in North Bengal when TMC received a shot in the arm. With Barla in its ranks, the TMC is expected to consolidate its position in the tea gardens. Born in a tribal family in Lakhipara tea garden in Jalpaiguri, Barla started his political career championing the cause of the tea garden workers. In 2007, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad.
Barla moved up in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha riding the crest of his popularity but later he fell out with its chief Bimal Gurung over his demand for a separate state for tribals and other backward classes in the Terai and Dooars region.
His formidable organisational skills and support base among tea garden workers led to an affinity with the Left Front whom he supported earlier. His proximity to TMC can be traced back to 2011 though he did not join its ranks then.
It was upto the state BJP to give Barla a place in the sun in electoral politics following a saffron surge in the Assembly elections. Shortlisted as a leader who could make the BJP presence felt in North Bengal, he was nominated to contest for the party from Alipurduar parliamentary constituency reserved for candidates from Scheduled Tribe(ST) in 2019 Lok Sabha elections
Even as Barla was made a Minister of State, he had his ears to the ground. After TMC stormed to power for the third time in 2021 assembly polls,, he and some other BJP leaders sensing a shift demanded Union Territory in the region which led to the party distancing itself from him. Barla was replaced by Manoj Tigga in Alipurduar in 2024 Lok Sabha polls.. Vindicating his party’s choice, Tigga won reducing Barla’s importance in the party.
But his political retreat notwithstanding Barla was yet to be politically written off. Canny politician that he is, he kept his options open keeping the saffron camp guessing till almost the last minute.
Efforts by the BJP leadership failed to change his mind. Barla had a hand in TMC victory in Madarihat bypoll, it was learnt. Now with Barla in its ranks, TMC stands a better chance of improving its tally in 2026 Assembly elections from the eight districts in North Bengal.. It already has 26 out of 54 constituencies of this region in its kitty after 2021 Assembly polls.
But the 2024 Parliamentary elections results turned out to be a flash in the pan success. Only the Coochbehar seat was bagged by TMC. Here is where Barla’s organisational expertise will be coming in handy. He will be used by TMC to undo the political damage in the wake of the TMC government decision transferring 30 per cent of tea gardens for commercial purpose.
It will be on a freehold basis and not a leasehold basis. This is reported to make a section of locals irate. Like several others joining the TMC camp from the saffron one, Barla is certain to be given a plum organisational post. It remains to be seen how much oil he can pour on troubled waters. (IPA Service)
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