Humayun Kabir Launches Janata Unnayan Party Amid Political Turmoil

Background of the Political Shift

In a significant turn of events, West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir officially unveiled his new political party, the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), following his suspension from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). This suspension stemmed from his controversial decision to lay the foundation stone for a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district.

Focus on Upcoming Elections

During a public gathering in Beldanga, Kabir announced that his party intends to contest in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. He disclosed the names of eight candidates, although the total number of seats contested remains undetermined. "We will provide details about the total seats we will contest later," he stated during the party’s inauguration.

Kabir’s Ambitious Electoral Plans

As the MLA representing Bharatpur, Kabir expressed his intention to contest two assembly seats: Rejinagar and Beldanga in Murshidabad. He emphasized his goal to unseat current West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the forthcoming elections, claiming she has become detached from the public.

Kabir directly challenged Banerjee, asserting, "I challenge her to win even a single seat. We aim to reduce her party to zero in Murshidabad." He also warned the BJP, stating, "If they field candidates in 200 seats, I will demonstrate by winning 100 seats."

Kabir’s Vision as a Kingmaker

Previously, Kabir proclaimed his ambition to be a "kingmaker" in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He predicted that neither the ruling TMC nor the BJP would achieve a simple majority, estimating that no party would exceed the 148-seat threshold in the 294-member assembly.

"I will be the kingmaker after the elections. No one can form a government without my support," Kabir asserted. He noted his aspirations for the JUP to contest 135 seats, promising enough victories to influence government formation.

Reactions from Political Rivals

While the TMC has yet to respond directly to Kabir’s new party, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of attempting to create divisions among Muslims in the state during a party meeting in Kolkata. The BJP, on the other hand, has dismissed Kabir’s efforts as inconsequential. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya remarked that Kabir’s move was more of a ploy to support the TMC’s return to power.

BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain labeled Kabir as a "TMC agent," insinuating that his new party serves Banerjee’s interests, designed to keep discontented Muslim voters from aligning with the opposition.

The Babri-style Mosque Controversy

Kabir’s suspension from the TMC followed the uproar surrounding his comments about constructing a Babri-style mosque. He laid the foundation stone for the mosque on December 6, coinciding with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, drawing further scrutiny.

Throughout his political career, Kabir has engaged with various major parties in West Bengal. He was expelled from the TMC in 2015 after criticizing Mamata Banerjee and alleging favoritism toward her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. He ran as an independent in the 2016 Assembly elections but lost. Later, he joined Congress, transitioned to the BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, and returned to the TMC, where he won the Bharatpur Assembly seat in 2021.

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