Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 16, 2025, Kolkata : In a dramatic turn of events following his defection to the Trinamool Congress, former Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, John Barla, has found himself at the center of a legal dispute. Barla, who joined the ruling party on Thursday, used the occasion to launch a fierce attack on his former political associate, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Subhendu Adhikari. Barla’s accusations, made during a press conference, have since triggered a swift legal response from Subhendu, who has sent a legal notice demanding an apology.
At the heart of the controversy are Barla’s claims that Subhendu blocked his efforts to build a Rs 160 crore hospital on railway land, a project Barla said he had fully funded. According to Barla, his initiative to help the people was thwarted by the Opposition Leader, whom he accused of interfering with the development project for political reasons. Barla’s comments stirred significant outrage, especially among the BJP and its supporters, as he openly accused Subhendu of standing in the way of progress.
In response, Subhendu Adhikari has taken immediate legal action. Through his lawyer, Subhendu has dismissed Barla’s allegations as “baseless” and “completely false.” The legal notice demands that Barla issue an unconditional public apology to Subhendu in writing. Furthermore, the notice warns Barla to refrain from making any further defamatory remarks about Subhendu in any forum—whether political, governmental, or private—urging him to cease all such comments immediately.
Barla’s sudden shift to Trinamool and his scathing remarks against Subhendu have sparked a wider political controversy, drawing attention to internal rifts within the BJP and the larger political dynamics of West Bengal. With tensions running high, Subhendu’s decision to pursue legal action underscores the personal and political stakes involved. As the situation continues to unfold, all eyes are now on whether Barla will comply with the legal notice or escalate the confrontation further.