Humayun Kabir is no longer just a former Trinamool Congress leader. He now stands at the centre of Murshidabad’s shifting political ground, trying to redraw the map on his own terms.
“I have walked out of the system I helped build,” he said, detailing his political journey. Expelled from the Trinamool Congress in December 2025 over his demand to build a Babri Masjid-like structure in Beldanga, Kabir did not retreat. Instead, he launched the Aam Janata Unnayan Party and chose to fight back. Contesting from both Rejinagar and Naoda, he is banking on visibility and presence, trying to turn local influence into electoral relevance.
At 63, Kabir projects himself as grounded — a graduate, a businessman, someone rooted in the district. His affidavit shows assets of over Rs 4.44 crore with no liabilities, much of it tied to land and property in Murshidabad.
His attempted tie-up with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, led by Asaduddin Owaisi, collapsed under fresh allegations about 'Rs 1,000 crore deal' with the BJP. The TMC has accused him of working to split minority votes. Kabir rejects that outright, calling it a political attack.
What emerges is a leader positioning himself as an outsider within the system he once belonged to — assertive, controversial and difficult to ignore. In Murshidabad’s 2026 Assembly contest, Kabir is not just a candidate — he is a decisive factor.
High political drama unfolds across West Bengal ahead of the upcoming assembly by-polls. In Rajnagar, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress faction candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury made a dramatic U-turn, deciding to contest the election just hours after announcing the withdrawal of his candidature over party cadre safety concerns and symbol changes. The decision to stay in the fray came after he sought security assurances at the Beldanga Police Station and received outreach from senior party leaders. Meanwhile, in Nandigram, Congress candidate Milan Pradhan was produced before the Haldia court following his arrest in four old cases, including murder charges and the Arms Act, shortly after receiving support from Mamata Banerjee's camp. The Congress leadership, led by State Congress President Subhankar Sarkar, strongly backed Pradhan, while party cadres prepared for protests against the sudden police action during the nomination window.
Kolkata Police has registered an FIR against Trinamool Congress leaders, including Derek O'Brien, Abhishek Banerjee, Humayun Kabir, and Baisenor Chattopadhyay, following a clash during the removal of an unauthorized hoarding at 9 Camac Street in Kolkata. The incident occurred on August 27 after Kolkata Municipal Corporation officials, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the location after a written request for assistance from the civic body. Authorities alleged that TMC leaders and their supporters formed an unlawful assembly, obstructing police and municipal personnel from carrying out their official duties. Police confirmed that complaints have been filed at the Shakespeare Sarani police station, and an investigation into the clash has been launched.
A joint letter signed by 117 individuals, including 61 from India and 56 from Pakistan, has been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging the normalisation of bilateral ties.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a historic victory in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, winning 206 seats and ending the fifteen-year rule of the Trinamool Congress.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' for the West Bengal elections, promising the Uniform Civil Code, the 7th Pay Commission, and a monthly cash transfer of Rs 3,000 for women.
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the death of 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra, who was killed in a road accident on February 3 in Delhi's Dwarka after his bike was hit head-on by a Scorpio allegedly being driven by a 17-year-old.
Speaking in Barabanki, the Chief Minister addressed recent controversies regarding a 'Babri 2.0' proposal, stating, 'Those dreaming of the reconstruction of the structure will perish; that day will never come.'
This news report details the detention of Ghulam Nabi Azad, son of suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir, by the West Bengal Police. The detention follows allegations that Azad assaulted his father's Personal Security Officer (PSO) at their residence in Murshidabad. The report highlights that while the police are interrogating Azad to ascertain the timeline and intent behind the alleged altercation, Humayun Kabir has termed the case 'politically motivated'. The MLA has issued a stern warning, stating that if 'harsh action' is taken against his family, he will 'gherao the SP's office' and bring Berhampore city to a standstill. The bulletin notes that the investigation is ongoing under relevant sections of the law.
On this Special Report, India Today's Senior Editor Tapas Sengupta reports on the detention of Golam Nabi Azad, son of suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, in Murshidabad. Azad was detained for allegedly assaulting his father's Personal Security Officer (PSO), Jumma Khan. Humayun Kabir has strongly denied the allegations, terming them a 'political vendetta' by the ruling party following his decision to float the Janata Unnayan Party and his vow to build a replica of the Babri Masjid in Bengal. The MLA issued a stern warning, stating, 'If any harsh action is to take place against any member of my family, then I will gherao the SP's office from next Thursday and bring Behrampur city to a complete standstill.'
In this news report, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has launched a new political outfit, the Jan Unnayan Party, ahead of the upcoming West Bengal assembly elections. The Bharatpur MLA, who was suspended earlier this month for proposing the construction of a Babri Masjid replica in Murshidabad, has now proposed forming a strategic alliance with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF). The report also highlights the reaction from TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who dismissed the potential impact of Kabir's new party. Banerjee stated that 'anyone in this country is open to form a political party' and contest elections, while criticizing Kabir's attempt to politicize religious issues.
In a significant political development in West Bengal, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has launched a new political outfit, the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP). Kabir announced plans to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), and other parties. Responding to the move, TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee dismissed the threat, stating that ‘people are not fools’ and can ‘see through such Netas’. India Today’s Deputy Editor Anupam Mishra reports that the TMC has adopted a ‘wait and watch’ strategy regarding Kabir’s potential alliance to assess the public response before formulating a counter-strategy.
A historic political reunion is underway as cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray announce an alliance for the critical BMC elections, a move aimed at consolidating the Marathi vote to 'save Maharashtra'.
In this breaking news report, the focus is on the political controversy involving 'Babri builder' and Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) leader Humayun Kabir. The segment details how Kabir dropped his party's only Hindu candidate, Nisha, just hours after announcing her name for the upcoming elections. While Nisha alleges she was targeted because of her religion and hounded over old social media uploads, Kabir cites 'videos of Nisha on social media' as the reason for cancelling her candidature. The report highlights the clash between allegations of religious bias and claims of protecting party image.
In a major political controversy in West Bengal, Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) founder Humayun Kabir dropped social media influencer Nisha Chatterjee as the party's candidate for the Ballygunge seat just 24 hours after announcing her name. While Kabir cited Chatterjee’s 'inappropriate' social media reels and photos as the reason for the sudden removal, Chatterjee has alleged religious discrimination. Speaking exclusively to India Today, she claimed she was targeted because she is a Hindu and accused Kabir’s outfit of being an Islamist party rather than secular. Chatterjee, who owns a cafe in Kolkata, stated, ‘I have been dropped because I am a Hindu.’ She also questioned Kabir’s 'Babri builder' rhetoric. The Bharatpur MLA, recently suspended by TMC, had launched JUP with a promise of secularism but announced he would replace Chatterjee with a Muslim candidate.
Political tensions are escalating in West Bengal after suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation for a Babri Masjid replica in Murshidabad and launched a new political outfit, the 'Janata Unnayan Party', ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the political turmoil in West Bengal following suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir's launch of his new political outfit, the 'Janata Unnayan Party'. The move comes days after Kabir laid the foundation stone for a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad, sparking a fierce debate on communal polarization ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Senior Journalist Shikha Mukherjee observes, 'Humayun Kabir has made his point very clear. One, he's going to construct a masjid and it's going to be a replica of the Babri Masjid.' The programme features a heated debate between BJP National Spokesperson Radhika Kheda, who denies any BJP involvement, and Political Analyst Monujeet Mandal, who alleges a conspiracy to divide the minority vote.
This edition of To The Point discusses two major developing stories – one in Bengal where suspended TMC Neta Humayun Kabir has floated a new party and the Aravalli row.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the escalating political row in West Bengal over suspended TMC leader Humayun Kabir's plan to build a 'Babri Masjid' replica in Murshidabad. TMC analyst Manojit Mandal defends the state government's non-interference, citing a High Court verdict that allows construction on private land. Mandal states, 'The High Court categorically stated that someone can build a mosque in a private land. The state can't do anything with that.' He counters accusations of appeasement by pointing to the lack of BJP opposition to the Jagannath Temple in Digha. The debate, hosted by Gaurav Sawant, features an intense exchange where an unidentified BJP spokesperson questions why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has not arrested Kabir to prevent potential communal disharmony.
This special report covers two major developing stories in India. In West Bengal, the political landscape is shifting ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections as suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Humayun Kabir launches his new Janata Unnayan Party. Following his suspension over controversial remarks, Kabir has challenged the TMC's dominance in the Murshidabad district, sparking a debate on the potential splitting of the minority vote. Simultaneously, a new Supreme Court order has redefined 'hills' as landforms over 100 meters, threatening to strip legal protection from large portions of the Aravalli range. This has ignited a fierce debate between the government and environmentalists. Union Environment Minister Bhupinder Yadav assures that mining will be governed by 'strict scientific scrutiny,' while activists and local leaders, including Rajasthan MLA Ravindra Singh Bhati, protest the decision, warning of a severe ecological disaster.
In a significant development in West Bengal politics, suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir has officially launched a new political outfit named the ‘Janata Unnayan Party’. The launch comes amidst a heated controversy triggered by Kabir laying the foundation stone for a ‘new Babri Masjid’ in Murshidabad on December 6. Addressing the launch, Kabir directly challenged the state leadership, declaring, ‘Mamta Banerjee will not come in power the next day.’ The move has drawn sharp reactions, with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanchalak Mohan Bhagwat terming the mosque construction a ‘political conspiracy’ aimed at polarisation. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also accused the Mamata Banerjee government of appeasement politics. With the West Bengal Assembly elections due in 2026, Kabir has pledged to field candidates, signaling a potential three-way contest in the state's volatile political landscape.
