Alipurduar: BJP winners in recent panchayat polls sheltered at John Barla's home

 Barla said the BJP winners had fled to Assam after the counting of votes on July 8 because of consistent pressure from Trinamul leaders and workers to switch sides

Panchayat poll winners of the BJP and their children with John Barla at his residence in the Lakhipara tea plantations in Jalpaiguri district on Sunday.: Biplab Basak

TT, Jalpaiguri, 08.08.23 : Around 45 BJP candidates who won the recent panchayat elections in Alipurduar district have been staying at the residence of local MP and Union minister of state for minority affairs John Barla for the past few days in order to avert the alleged pressure tactics of the Trinamul Congress to join the ruling party of Bengal.

Barla said the BJP winners had fled to Assam after the counting of votes on July 8 because of consistent pressure from Trinamul leaders and workers to switch sides.

"From Assam, they have come to my house. I have provided them with shelter and will keep them here until boards are formed in panchayats where we have the majority,” said Barla.

The candidates, along with their families, are staying in some of the rooms of the Alipurduar MP’s residence on the Lakhipara tea estate in Banahat block in Jalpaiguri district. Most of the BJP winners are women and have their children with them. The candidates are mostly from Falakata and Birpara-Madarihat blocks, where the BJP secured a majority in some panchayats.

Laxmi Pal, who took refuge at Barla's house, said Trinamul leaders had insisted that she deserted the BJP and extended support to their party in forming the board.

“That is why we have to take shelter at the MP’s house. Some others like us are staying in their villages but we doubt how long can they withstand the pressure. We are feeling safe here as the house is guarded by central security forces,” said Pal, who won a seat in Jateswar 2 panchayat in Falakata block.

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, was in Jalpaiguri on Sunday to attend the obsequial rites of Dhupguri BJP MLA Bishupada Roy, who had died last month.

“Trinamul had indulged in malpractices during the counting of votes. Now, the party is intimidating BJP winners and resorting to other unfair means to get them on board. We will not let it happen,” Adhikari said.

Trinamul leaders of Alipurduar denied the charges.

Mridul Goswami, the district chairman of the party, said BJP was not confident of retaining its winners.

“We don’t need to indulge in unethical activities. In fact, BJP leaders are apprehensive that they will not be able to retain their candidates as many of them want to join Trinamul to expedite the development of their areas. A section of candidates is also disgruntled with the Centre’s decision to hold back the funds for rural development schemes,” he said.