'I am where I always was': Babul Supriyo breaks silence amid speculation over joining 'rebel camp'

Rajya Sabha MP Babul Supriyo on Thursday issued a detailed social media statement amid growing speculation about his political future following a series of defections from the Trinamool Congress. In the post, Supriyo stated, "I am where I always was," and said he remained with his party and party leadership. His remarks came as questions intensified over the future of several Trinamool leaders following recent political developments and multiple resignations from the party's parliamentary ranks.

Addressing repeated questions regarding his political position, Supriyo said he respected the democratic verdict delivered by the people of West Bengal. He stated that he would work with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for public welfare and use his annual MP Local Area Development fund for developmental purposes. He also said he had spent 90 per cent of his MP funds on development projects and reserved the remaining amount for disaster relief efforts across the country. In addition, he said he would continue seeking assistance from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for children in West Bengal suffering from serious illnesses.

In the same post, Supriyo made remarks about recent political defections without naming any individual. He referred to people who appeared to have found sudden political "enlightenment" after May 4 and questioned their explanations for changing political positions. He also stated that he would never support corruption or the misuse of public resources and said all accused individuals should face legal action. At the same time, he noted that debates over allegations against politicians and their political affiliations would continue.

Supriyo also clarified that he was not in Delhi and would travel there only for parliamentary responsibilities. He stated that he was not giving interviews at present and intended to focus on music, peace and personal pursuits. A former BJP MP from Asansol and former Union Minister of State, Supriyo joined the Trinamool Congress in September 2021, won the Ballygunge Assembly by-election in 2022, served as West Bengal's IT and Tourism Minister, and currently represents the party in the Rajya Sabha.