Babul Supriyo, Replaced As Union Minister Recently, Says Quitting Politics
Babul Supriyo lost the Tollygunj Assembly Constituency by over 50,000 votes in the West Assembly polls held earlier this year.
New Delhi:
Babul Supriyo, the BJP’s Asansol MP who was dropped as Union Minister in the recent cabinet reshuffle, today said he was quitting politics. The Bollywood singer, however, made it clear he was not moving to any other party, emphasising he was a “one-team player”.
He announced his decision to move on in a Facebook post that began with “I’m leaving…farewell.” The post, in mostly Bengali, also included the YouTube link to a song by the late playback artiste Hemanta Mukherjee.
“Heard everyone’s words — father, (mother) wife, daughter, two dear friends…After hearing everything, I say that I am not going to any other party – #TMC, #Congress, #CPIM, nowhere…I am a one Team Player! Have always supported one team #MohunBagan…Have backed only BJP in West Bengal…That’s it…I am going…” he wrote.
“If you want to do social work, you can do it without being in politics…let’s organise myself a little first and then…”
Mr Supriyo also said he was quitting as MP.
He was replaced earlier this month as Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. A few months ago, he lost in the West Bengal Assembly election from the Tollygunj constituency in Kolkata by over 50,000 votes.
Thanking top BJP leaders like Amit Shah and JP Nadda for “their love”, he clarified that his move wasn’t aimed at “bargaining”.
“…they might think I’m ‘bargaining’ for a ‘position’…I pray they don’t misunderstand me, forgive me…” he wrote.
