Dropped from Cabinet, Babul leaves politics
Kolkata: Days after he was dropped in the central cabinet reshuffle, former Union minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo said on Saturday that he has decided to quit politics and will be resigning as an MP.
He hinted the decision was partly due to losing the ministerial berth and also differences with the state BJP leadership.
Mr Supriyo (50), who had held several portfolios as MOS in the Narendra Modi government since 2014, was removed earlier this month in a major cabinet rejig.
Kolkata, July 31: Days after he was dropped in the central cabinet reshuffle, former Union minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo said on Saturday that he has decided to quit politics and will be resigning as an MP. He hinted the decision was partly due to losing the ministerial berth and also differences with the state BJP leadership.
Mr Supriyo (50), who had held several portfolios as MOS in the Narendra Modi government since 2014, was removed earlier this month in a major cabinet rejig.
“Leaving, Goodbye. I spoke to my parents, wife, friends, and after listening to the advice, I am saying that I am leaving. I am not going to any other party — TMC, Congress, CPIM, nowhere. I am confirming that nobody has called me.
“I am going nowhere. I am a oneteam player! I have always supported one team, #MohunBagan — Have been with only one party — BJP West Bengal. That’s it!! Leaving,” Mr Supriyo said in a Facebook post.
“I have stayed for too long I have helped somebody, have disappointed someone...it is for the people to decide. If you want to do social work, you can do it without being in politics. Yes, I am resigning from the post of MP,” his post read.
The singerturned politician also said he will vacate his government accommodation within a month.
As part of a major rejig, the two-time MP from Asansol was among the several ministers who were dropped from the union cabinet on July 7. He unsuccessfully contested assembly polls against Trinamool Congress Aroop Biswas in the last assembly elections.
Both Mr Supriyo and Debasree Chaudhuri, MPs from Bengal, were dropped as ministers. Four other MPs from West Bengal Nishit Pramanik, Santanu Thakur, Subhas Sarkar and John Barla were inducted as MOS in the ministry. “But, I have to answer a question because it’s pertinent! The question is, why I left politics? Does it have anything to do with leaving the ministry? Yes, there is - there must be something! I don’t want to pretend. So it would be right on my part to answer the questions, and it will give me peace too,” he wrote.