'Minorities will vote for me, Mamata exploited them'

The singer-turned-politician pulled off a huge upset in the 2014 Lok Sabha election when he defeated Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Dola Sen, backed by influential TMC Minister Malay Ghatak from the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. Now, Babul Supriyo, a Union Minister is not only confident of retaining the seat but also does not consider his celebrity rival TMC candidate Moon Moon Sen as a serious challenge. Babul Supriyo speaks to DH at his residence in Asansol.

There is star versus star contest this time in Asansol. How much of a challenge do you think Moon Moon Sen is for you?

I can’t understand why are you calling her a star. If she was a star then she would have never tried to capitalise on the fame of her late mother (iconic Bengali film actor Suchitra Sen). She has used her mother’s photo in her posters. I am shocked. She is asking people to vote for her for the peace of her mother’s departed soul. Is this a joke? Suchitra Sen would have been ashamed to know that her daughter is candidate of a mafia party like TMC.

The way she has used abusive language and launched personal attacks against me shows that one can’t be educated just by having degrees.

What do you think of TMC’s decision of shifting Moon Moon Sen from Bankura, from where she won in 2014, to Asansol?

Please ask her why did she run away from Bankura and came to Asansol. Would she be able to go back to Bankura and face the people there? She has already enraged the people with her offensive remarks. Sometimes she is saying Biharis are police informers and sometimes she says that I am a servant. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth she doesn't know that servants don't steal like TMC leaders. They earn their livelihood through hard work.

Do you think TMC is trying to hijack Hindutva by organising Ram Navami rallies?

I don’t care about it. Fake and corrupt people will sink to any low for victory. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is busy making hollow claims. But look at the situation in West Bengal. Elections are being held across the country. Where else have you seen such violence? People here are demanding deployment of Central forces so that they can vote freely. Mamata Banerjee is responsible for this.

Illegal coal mining has always been an issue in Asansol. How do you plan to tackle it?

Several times I have ensured transfers (of government officials) regarding this. Everyone knows which coal mafia gives money to which TMC leader in Asansol. I have taken a tough stand against the coal mafias here. They run away when they see me.

Your victory in Asansol last time was considered as an upset. How hopeful you are of retaining the seat this time?

I am confident of getting reelected from Asansol. Just wait and see the margin of my victory. I don’t make hollow claims.

How hopeful you are of getting minority votes?

Minorities will vote for me in large numbers. They have been cheated for a long time by the deceitful Chief Minister. Now they know that Mamata Banerjee has exploited them to cling to power.

What is your opinion of the Mahaghatbandhan?

Mahaghatbandhan has made work easier for the press. You don’t have to run around to find out the biggest criminals. All the tainted leaders are now on one platform.