Singer-turned politician Babul Supriyo gets a berth in Modi ministry

NEW DELHI: Babul Supriyo may not have achieved the stardom he would have aspired as a singer but his political career has taken off big time as the first-time MP was inducted as a minister in the Narendra Modi government today.

Supriyo is one of the only two BJP MPs from the politically crucial state of West Bengal where the saffron party is working hard to emerge as an alternative to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and Left parties.

The induction of the 44-year-old, who has also dabbled in acting, into the government will give West Bengal representation in the Centre and also gel with Prime Minister Modi's thrust on empowering youth.

Not many had given Supriyo much chance after BJP announced his name from Asansol but he ran a vigorous campaign on the back of Modi's developmental agenda and a massive rally by Modi in the constituency pitchforked him into the centre of political battle from which he emerged victorious.

His name was doing the rounds for induction in the government in May and he finally finds a place in the first revamp of the ministry.