Union minister of state for minority affairs, John Barla, an MP from Alipurduar in NorthBengal, today refused to talk to Manoj Tigga, who has been fielded by the BJP from Alipurduar, as the latter wanted to seek his ‘blessing’ and to discuss about the preparation for Lok Sabha polls.
Visibly upset, Mr Barla challenged Mr Tigga and started campaigning against him by saying, “No vote for Manoj Tigga.”
Paying no heed to requests of Mr Tigga’s followers, Mr Barla said, “I can talk to him if he withdraws his candidature. If Pawan Singh can opt out of the race, he will have to withdraw his candidacy. I will not talk to him because he has betrayed me and hatched a conspiracy against me.”
He also said, “Did he ask me about his plan to contest Lok Sabha polls. Even he assured me, before the meeting with J P Nadda and Sukanta Majumdar, a lead margin of 60,000 votes for me from his Madarihat assembly constituency. But keeping me in the dark he has managed a ticket!”
Speaking to the reporters, the Union minister said: “I had extended my support to Manoj Tigga to elect him as an MLA from Madarihat. Gorkha leader Bimal Gurung had done a lot for him. I had recommended his name as a district president as the state party president Sukanta Majumdar asked me. Despite my whole hearted support for him, he betrayed me. I will never forgive him. No vote for Manoj Tigga. I will see how he wins.”