'For TMC, Bengal's Interest Is Above All': Babul Supriyo After Ditching BJP To Join Mamata's Squad

Babul Supriyo Joins TMC: Babul Supriyo said, 'For Trinamool Congress, the interest of West Bengal is above all. Today is a big day for me.'

Babul Supriyo. (File Photo)

Babul Supriyo Joins TMC: Former BJP MP and Union minister Babul Supriyo joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata on Saturday. He had recently announced that he would be quitting politics. In his first reaction after joining Trinamool Congress (TMC), he said he was proud to be in the TMC.

He said the people of Bengal have faith in Didi (Mamata Banerjee). He said, "For TMC, West Bengal's interest is above all. TMC's main purpose is to serve the people of West Bengal. Today is a big day for me."

In a tweet, the Trinamool Congress said, "Former Union Minister and sitting MP Babul Supriyo joined the Trinamool family today in the presence of National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien." 

Last month, Supriyo announced that he was quitting politics, but was later persuaded not to resign from the Lok Sabha membership. Supriyo had insisted that he would no longer be a part of active politics.

Talking to reporters after meeting BJP president JP Nadda, Asansol MP Supriyo had said that he will continue to discharge his constitutional responsibilities as an MP but will stay away from politics. He said that he will also vacate his official residence in the national capital.

Meanwhile, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh claimed, "Many BJP leaders are in touch with the TMC leadership. They are not satisfied with BJP. One (Babul Supriyo) joined today, the others would want to join tomorrow. This process will continue. Wait and watch."

Babul Supriyo had also contested the West Bengal assembly elections but was unable to win. BJP had fielded him from Tollyganj assembly seat in West Bengal. Announcing his retirement from politics, he wrote, "Goodbye! I would not be joining any political party. TMC, Congress, CPI(M), nobody called me. I am not going anywhere... You don't need to be in politics to do social work."