Former BJP MP Babul Supriyo joins Trinamool Congress
What's the story
Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Babul Supriyo has joined the Trinamool Congress party (TMC), news agency ANI reported. He joined the party in the presence of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien. Supriyo had earlier announced on social media that he was quitting politics. Here are more details.
Quote
TMC made the announcement on Twitter
The Trinamool Congress announced his joining in a tweet this afternoon. "Today, in the presence of National General Secretary @abhishekaitc and RS MP @derekobrienmp, former Union Minister and sitting MP @SuPriyoBabul joined the Trinamool family. We take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to him!" the party tweeted. Supriyo is an MP from Asansol, West Bengal.
Twitter Post
You can check the tweet here
Today, in the presence of National General Secretary @abhishekaitc and RS MP @derekobrienmp, former Union Minister and sitting MP @SuPriyoBabul joined the Trinamool family.
— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) September 18, 2021
We take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to him! pic.twitter.com/6OEeEz5OGj
Developments
Supriyo had announced 'retirement' from politics in July
Supriyo had, in July, announced his decision to "retire" from politics. He said "there were issues with state leadership before elections." He also added that he did not intend to join any other political party, but that comment was quickly deleted. The BJP, on the other hand, had maintained that the singer-turned-politician would not leave the party.
Details
He was asked to leave the Union Cabinet this year
Supriyo had joined the BJP in 2014 and won from the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency. Between 2014 and 2021, he served as a Minister of State for several departments, including urban development, housing, and environment. Earlier this year, he was made to resign as the junior minister in Environment Ministry and was subsequently excluded from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reshuffled Cabinet.
Other leaders
'Many BJP leaders in talks to join TMC'
Supriyo is the fifth BJP leader to leave for the TMC after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led party won a landslide victory this year and returned to power. Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said more BJP leaders are in talks to join his party. "They are not satisfied with BJP. One joined today, another wants to join tomorrow. This process will go on. Wait and watch."