Not many were surprised when Babul Supriyo recently made the jump to TMC. The angry singer-turned-politician, who said he was quitting politics after being removed as the Union Minister of State for Environment, said Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Will play an important role in 2024. News18 spoke to Supriyo about his decision on loyalty, future plans and his war of words with the BJP. Edited excerpt:
What caused the change? What happened in the last 3 days?
There is a simple answer to this. I responded to the opportunity given to me by Didi (Mamata Banerjee), Abhishek (Banerjee) and TMC. All this happened in three days. There was something special that he planned for me that made me change my decision.
Many people said that I have done some good work. I won twice; For the second time, leaving politics with such a huge margin, it felt like I was retired hurt. I am excited by this new opportunity which inspired me to change my mind and serve people to the best of my ability. I left politics with all my heart and now I will come back with all my heart. I am very happy that I will start my new innings with a lot of inspiration.
Do you remember that episode of “Jhalmuri” when you were switching sides? Your protest is saying that your change of side started from the same day?
I don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Today those who are saying all this (hinting to Anupam Hazra) are saying the opposite. They were not there in 2014. They are my opponents now and it is okay that they will criticize. Some are gentlemanly criticizing, some others are like Dilip (Ghosh) da, an expert in “apshabo” (bad language). I’ve thought about giving him the “Burno introduction” he needs to learn from there.
Bengal is an iconic language on which Rabindranath Tagore has worked. Ghosh needs to know that this is the land of Rabindranath, Nazrul and Netaji; He has to learn all this and then I will sit in an argument with him.
What really happened in the last 3 days?
There were inspiring, captivating things. I am inspired by Didi and Abhishek. We took it as a serious matter, nobody knew it. I would go by the rule book. I will reach Delhi on Tuesday and I am ready when the Speaker gives me time to resign.
I also want to assure Asansol that I will work for them because Asansol has laid my foundation. Let me be very honest; I want to be in the playing XI. If the coach thinks I am not fit to play eleven when I think I should be there, I will not sit and heat the benches and take allowances from public money. I will play for the coach and team who believe in what I can do.
Sources say that you are going to get a Rajya Sabha berth. What do you have to do?
Look, this is the prerogative of CM didi, I don’t want to say anything on this. We’ll have to wait. Enjoy speculation for a few days and then you will know exactly what happens.
The war on Twitter has started since last night. How are you handling it?
I don’t even have Facebook, Twitter app in my phone and I am away from social media for a long time. It is the job of the opposition to criticize. Swapan da (Swapan Dasgupta) has criticized me like a gentleman. I believed that I was close to Tathagata Roy; It’s not like I’m making history by changing sides. there is nothing new. What was the BJP doing when they opened the doors for everyone to come and join their party, hurting the sentiments of all the local workers?
Let them do their work. Suvendu Adhikari is a friend of mine; We can be rivals but that doesn’t mean you have to be enemies. When he joined BJP, he had to face the same thing. Now he is doing the same to me. Everything is fair in love and war. I’m not taking this too seriously, I was expecting it.
Priyanka Tibrewal has said that you will not campaign against her because she is your ‘sister’. Won’t you campaign in Bhabnipur?
Do you really think that Mamata Banerjee needs Babul to campaign in Bhawanipur? I do not think so. Let’s wait and see, I don’t care for speculation. Mamata Banerjee is an eminent leader and she has shown the nation that she definitely has an important role to play in 2024.
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