Ex-TMC MLA Humayun Kabir vows to challenge Mamata ahead of 2026 Bengal polls
Kolkata: Former Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, recently expelled from the party, has vowed not to allow Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to secure a fourth term in West Bengal. His announcement follows the controversial proposal to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, which has stirred political and communal tensions across the state.
Speaking to NDTV a day after laying the foundation stone for the proposed mosque in Beldanga, Kabir said he would form his own political party on December 22 and align with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM. He claimed he plans to field candidates in 135 out of the state’s 294 assembly constituencies, calling the move a potential “game-changer” in Bengal politics.
Kabir warned that the Trinamool’s Muslim vote bank could be at risk. “I am forming a new party to work for Muslims. I will contest in 135 seats and reshape the political landscape in Bengal. I am in touch with AIMIM and will contest elections alongside them,” he said. AIMIM or Owaisi have not yet responded to these claims.
The former MLA also targeted the BJP, stating, “I will not let BJP come to power in Bengal. Trinamool will be unable to form the next government.” Kabir further claimed that several industrialists across India would support his initiative, adding that there is ample Muslim funding available to assist with the mosque project.
Trinamool had expelled Kabir, emphasizing its commitment to a “secular ideology,” while the BJP criticized the mosque project as an attempt to provoke communal tensions ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
Despite the controversies, Kabir’s foundation-laying ceremony in Beldanga drew massive crowds. He claimed that around eight lakh people participated, despite the absence of police support, and that significant donations in cash and bricks had been received.
With the 2026 West Bengal elections approaching, Kabir’s new political maneuvering around the Babri Masjid replica could further polarize voters and pose challenges to both Trinamool and BJP in the state.
