Singer-turned-Union minister Babul Supriyo surprised every one by not only attending Trinamul Congress’ 18th birthday party in Asansol but also singing on the occasion. Unlike other state BJP leaders, party MP from Asansol does not believe in keeping hostile relations with the ruling party. In fact, in the past, he had earned the wrath of party colleagues for his display of bonhomie with chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
Although state BJP leadership did not openly criticise Mr Surpriyo, sources said he was summoned by state president Dilip Ghosh in the afternoon to explain what a BJP leader described as “hobnobbing with the enemy.” Mr Supriyo, however, said that it was a pre-scheduled meeting and he was not summoned.
In the morning, Mr Supriyo asked the driver of his car to stop when he saw the makeshift stage near Corporation More. Asansol mayor Jitendra Kumar Tiwari and other TMC leaders had assembled there to celebrate their party’s 18th foundation day. A large pink birthday cake was waiting to be cut when Mr Supriyo suddenly climbed onto the stage.
Mr Tiwari was taken aback. Mr Supriyo wished every one a happy new year. It was not clear if he had offered his greetings for TMC’s birthday. Needless to say, Mr Tiwari was delighted. When Mr Supriyo turned to leave, he requested him to sing a memorable Tagore song Tomar holo shuru. Mr Supriyo, however, politely declined to sing that particular number and instead chose to sing a few lines of an evergreen Kishore Kumar melody Amar pujar phool. There was a meaningful smile on Mr Supriyo’s lips when he sang the line “tumi jeno bhool bujho na”, which could be loosely translated as “hope you don’t misunderstand me.”
The gesture of the Union minister of state for urban development triggered a major controversy. Finding himself on the backfoot, he took pains to explain that the programme he attended was not organised by the rival Trinamul Congress but by Asansol’s mayor. “I was passing by when I saw the mayor. I stopped by to wish him new year. As a mayor, Mr Tiwari has a responsibility for beautification of Asansol and so have I as MP who also happens to be (junior) urban development minister. That was not a TMC stage: it was the mayor’s stage. It is not proper to see everything through the prism of politics,” he elaborated.
In May, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kolkata, Mr Supriyo travelled with chief minister Banerjee in her car. He also shared jhalmuri (spicy puffed rice salad) with her. An overwhelmed Mr Supriyo had showered lavish praises on Ms Banerjee. The BJP was furious over Asansol MP’s jhalmuri diplomacy. Several state leaders, notably Roopa Ganguly, had flayed Mr Supriyo.
