Former Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Babul Supriyo today quit the BJP and joined the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. He was handed the TMC membership by Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and National General Secretary of TMC Abhishek Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien.

The unexpected development comes on Saturday, former Union minister Babul Supriyo joined the Trinamool Congress, days after he officially announced to have quit politics.

Supriyo had quit BJP following the recent Union Cabinet reshuffle in July.

Earlier on Saturday, the Ministry of Home Affairs reduced Supriyo's security category from the 'Z' to 'Y' category. The reduction in security has been done on the basis of an internal threat perception report, reported News18.

"Today, in the presence of National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and RS MP Derek O’Brien, former Union Minister and sitting MP Babul Supriyo joined the Trinamool family. We take this opportunity to extend a very warm welcome to him!” informed the All India Trinamool Congress on Twitter.

The Trinamool said this is just the beginning as many BJP leaders are in communication with TMC leadership. “They are not satisfied with BJP. One (Babul Supriyo) joined today, another wants to join tomorrow. This process will go on. Wait and watch,” Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said.

"I'm very proud that I am changing my decision. I am coming back for a great opportunity to serve Bengal. I am very excited. I will meet Didi (CM Mamata Banerjee) on Monday. I am overwhelmed by the warm welcome," Supriyo said after joining the TMC.

"I meant it from my heart when I said I'll leave politics. However, I felt there was a huge opportunity that was entrusted upon me (on joining TMC). All my friends said my decision to leave politics was wrong and emotional." he added.

Supriyo also hinted that he will quit as Asansol MP but will keep working for the constituency.

The former banker and singer joined the BJP in 2014 and won from the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency. Between 2014 and 2021, he served as a minister of the state of several departments including urban development, housing, urban poverty alleviation, ministry of heavy industries, public enterprises, the ministry of environment, forest and climate change etc. His significance in the party in the state got whittled down because of Dilip Ghosh, while he lost his Cabinet post after he was defeated in the West Bengal assembly election.

Image courtesy: Twitter