John Barla, Nisith Pramanik find cabinet berths: Discontentment against Barla within the VHP and the RSS has now percolated into the party's state hierarchy

The duo’s supporters celebrated in their respective pocketboroughs in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar but criticism of the leaders ran as an undercurrent in the BJP camp.

John Barla (left) with minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in Delhi.:PTI

TT Bureau   |   Siliguri   |   09.07.21: The inclusion of two BJP MPs from north Bengal, John Barla of Alipurduar and Nisith Pramanik of Cooch Behar, into the Union cabinet as ministers of state was greeted with celebrations in various parts of the region, but at the same time raised several questions within the saffron camp, courtesy the backgrounds of the duo.

Thursday began with the duo’s supporters celebrating the elevation in their respective pocketboroughs in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar with processions and sweets, but the criticism of the leaders ran as an undercurrent.

Many questioned the message the central BJP leadership was trying to give by promoting Barla, who recently demanded Union territory or separate statehood status for the region.

While speaking to reporters in Delhi on Thursday Barla said he didn’t want to comment on the controversial demand, a BJP leader said: "He has made it an issue and now it will simmer and create trouble. It’s sad that he is now in the Union cabinet.”

Barla, who hails from Lakhipara tea estate of Banarhat in Jalpaiguri, is not in the good books of the Sangh Parivar, especially the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,, for his alleged past. “Leaders of VHP and the RSS, who have been working in the tribal areas of north Bengal, including the tea belt, had said Barla was instrumental in encouraging tribals to embrace Christianity. They had disapproved of his inclusion into the BJP and the decision to field him in the MP’s seat from Alipurduar,” said a BJP leader in Calcutta.

Discontentment against Barla within the VHP and the RSS has now percolated into the party's state hierarchy with the MP raising the separate Union territory or state cry, feel many BJP leaders.

In north Bengal, BJP leaders are facing questions from residents on the issue and finding it tough to reply.

“Our state leaders are conveniently dodging direct replies. Such tactics will eventually not work,” said a BJP functionary in Siliguri.

The elevation of Barla and Pramanik also angered some hill residents who wondered why Darjeeling MP Raju Bista was snubbed is the Darjeeling seat from where BJP won thrice in Lok Sabha polls since 2009. In the Assembly polls, the party won in all five seats of the district. The BJP’s plan to appease Rajbanshis and tribals has not gone down well with the Gorkha voters of the BJP,” said an observer.

In Cooch Behar, questions are being raised over Pramanik’s elevation as he is a first-time MP with a number of legal cases pending against him.

Additional reporting by Arkamoy Datta Majumdar in Calcutta

(https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/john-barla-nisith-pramanik-find-cabinet-berths-raises-questions-within-bjp-camp/cid/1821794)