Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir on Monday formally launched his new political outfit, the Janata Unnayan Party, and signalled his intent to enter the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections by announcing candidates for several key constituencies.
Speaking at the party’s launch event, Kabir made it clear that the new party would not restrict its political ambitions to Malda and Murshidabad alone. Soon after unveiling the party’s name, he surprised many by declaring candidates not only for traditional minority strongholds but also for high-profile constituencies such as Ballygunge in Kolkata and Ichhapur in North 24 Parganas.
The announcement marked another dramatic turn in Kabir’s political journey this year. From earlier controversial statements, including constructing a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad to now floating a new political party, the suspended Bharatpur MLA has repeatedly grabbed headlines.
From the stage, Kabir announced that he himself would contest the 2026 Assembly elections from Rejinagar and Beldanga. He also named another Humayun Kabir — a doctor by profession — as the party’s candidate from Raninagar. This doctor had earlier contested the 2016 Assembly elections as a TMC candidate nominated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee but had lost.
Revealing further candidates, Kabir said Ibra Haji would contest from Kharagpur Rural, Mustara Bibi from Vaishnavnagar in Malda, and Manisha Pandey from the Murshidabad Assembly constituency. Another Humayun Kabir, a businessman by profession, was announced as the party’s candidate from Bhagwangola.
For Harirampur in South Dinajpur, Kabir named Wayedul Rahman as the. In a move that drew attention, Nisha Chatterjee was announced as the candidate for the prestigious Ballygunge constituency, while Sirajul Mondal was named for Ichhapur.
Mondal claimed he had been a companion of Mamata during the historic July 21 movement and said he had now joined hands with Kabir to support the new political platform.
The launch event saw a sizeable turnout, with a notable presence of several disgruntled TMC leaders sharing the stage with Kabir. Party flags were prominently displayed, and many supporters were seen wearing T-shirts bearing the Janata Unnayan Party’s name, giving the gathering the look of a full-fledged political mobilisation.
Kabir had earlier indicated that his new party would field candidates in multiple constituencies in the upcoming Assembly elections. Monday’s announcements appear to be the first concrete step in that direction, setting the stage for a potentially interesting political contest in West Bengal ahead of 2026.
Also read: Mamata targets BJP, ECI over SIR, says ‘next target is Delhi’
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