TMC candidate for Ballygunge assembly by-poll, Babul Supriyo, who switched over to the Mamata Banerjee-led party from the BJP last September, on Friday said his decision to quit the saffron party was prompted by politics of “hatred and divisiveness” practised by its members. The former MP had left the BJP shortly after losing his ministerial berth at the Centre.

Often trolled on social media over his decision to switch camps, Supriyo on Friday, tagging Bengal BJP’s official page, tweeted, “My decision to quit was prompted by the politics of hatred, divisiveness (practised in the saffron camp). I could no longer reconcile to such brand of politics.”

Asserting that he would do whatever was needed to protect the heritage, culture and secular values of Bengal, Supriyo said, “People of Asansol know I had never practiced the sectarian and narrow 70-30 or 80-20 politics in Bengal and will never do that.” The Left had accused the former minister of fuelling communal sentiments following a riot in Asansol area of Paschim Bardhaman district in 2018. Alleging that he was betrayed by the BJP leadership in Bengal, Supriyo stated, “I would work to uphold the motto of unity in diversity.” He also said that “he could not accept the regular insults made to Bengalis, the refusal to acknowledge the good work of a Bengali”.