In a Facebook post on 31st July 2021 BJP Leader Supriyo announced his decision to quit Lok Sabha and politics. He also denied the speculations about switching over to rival political parties. But after a meeting with BJP President JP Nadda in New Delhi on 2nd August 2021, Supriyo surprised observers by saying he will continue as the Member of Parliament of Asansol.
While interacting with the media after the meeting with JP Nadda, the 50-year old singer turned politician said “I have constitutional responsibility. I will continue as MP. People of Asansol have asked me to stay as their MP.”
Source: Babul Supriyo’s Facebook page
Earlier in July, just an hour before the first cabinet reshuffle by PM Narendra Modi, Babul Supriyo resigned as the Union Minister of State-Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate. After resignation, Supriyo tweeted “I have been asked to resign and I have.” The twitter post irked BJP Bengal President Dilip Ghosh. He expressed surprise over the fact that out of the 12 ministers who resigned from the cabinet, only Supriyo resorted to a public platform to express his displeasure.
The BJP central leadership meanwhile was looking to persuade Supriyo from quitting.
Babul Supriyo told reporters in a press conference that the BJP national chief J.P. Nadda along with Union home minister Amit Shah got in touch with him and suggested that he reconsider his decision.
Sources said, the BJP central leadership has been cautious about such exits as Mukul Roy switchover into TMC was seen as conceding some political ground.
But then experts have also been talking about the political calculations and moves by the BJP in recent times and that the decision to drop Supriyo from the ministry was well thought out.
Aniruddha Chakraborty, senior political journalist, India Today, told The Voices, “There are three reasons for Babul being asked to resign from the Union cabinet. Firstly, his inability to develop a strong organisation in Asansol. Second, his inability to stop the intra-party conflicts in the region and lastly, his political viability.”
Talking about the emerging dynamics in Bengal politics which necessitated the inclusion of fresh political faces from the state, Chakraborty said “BJP Alipurduar MP John Barla has been steering a separate statehood demand in North Bengal to capitalise over the sentiments of Adivashi people therein. Amit Shah was also expected to work out a way to live up to his Coochbehar election rally promise of inclusion of Narayani Sena, a regiment of the Rajbanshis of the region into the para military force. Thirdly, BJP was also expected to reward the Matua community for the exceptional support to promulgation of CAA. Lastly, in order to prepare for the 2024 Lok Sabha election BJP has been eyeing for a face from backward regions. So in order to meet above political obligations cabinet invited John Barla (demanding a separate statehood in North Bengal) and Nisith Pramanick( representative of the Rajbanshi community) Shantanu Thakur (representative of Matua community), Subhas Sarkar (representative from the backward regions) respectively to join the cabinet.”
Experts said that Supriyo, who had defeated TMC’s Dola Sen and Moon Moon Sen in 2014 and 2019 respectively, should have seen this coming.
According to poll strategist Arko Prabha Sarkar, “It was not Babul’s victory. It is Modi’s charisma that made him win handsomely twice from Asansol. Remember, he failed miserably in 2021 from Tollygunge. Moreover Babul entered politics out of some influence. Babul did react on social media but the centre gave a measured response.”
Supriyo courted several controversies in the past. He never shared good terms with the BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh or much of the state unit of BJP. The contrast between state and central leadership was visible when attempts by central leadership to retain Supriyo were met with cold reactions from state leadership.
Recently when Ghosh attacked Supriyo on his social media resignation post, the two-time MP responded with another Facebook post, saying that he would not have to deal with such personalities and their “uncouth comments” after quitting.
Days after hectic political developments, Supriyo is expected to continue with his constitutional responsibilities by working for the welfare of the people as the MP of Asansol. Analysts say his future political moves will be interesting to track.
Media reports have exposed the rising dissatisfaction within the cadres in the main opposition party in Bengal, since the polls. TMC is likely to keep a keen eye on developments to capitalise on any such discontentment in the rival camp, especially in the wake of the upcoming by-elections in the state.
By-elections are to be held for seven assembly constituencies in the state including Jangipur, Samshergunj, Khardha, Bhabanipur, Dinahata, Shantipur and Goshaba.
Story edited by NK Jha