The political atmosphere in West Bengal shifted dramatically following the declaration of the Rejinagar assembly bypoll results. Humayun Kabir, the legislator and chief of the Aam Janta Unnayan Party (AJUP), suffered a major political setback as his son, Ghulam Nabi Azad, faced defeat in the contest. The Rejinagar constituency had fallen vacant earlier due to Kabir's own resignation from the seat. On Friday, immediately after the electoral verdict became clear, Kabir made a sharp strategic turn by announcing his entry into the 2029 parliamentary elections. He stated his intention to contest from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Just a day prior, on Thursday, Kabir had hinted at walking away from active politics altogether.
Allegations of Irregularities Against Police and Opponents
Rejecting the outcome of the Rejinagar bypoll, Humayun Kabir strongly questioned the fairness of the entire voting process. He maintained that the election had been snatched rather than fairly conducted, claiming that police personnel actively stopped members of the Muslim community from reaching the polling stations to exercise their franchise. Kabir went on to make severe financial allegations, accusing the Beldanga police station officer and the local Superintendent of Police of collecting 5 crore rupees together, asserting that such measures were orchestrated simply to secure favorable postings from the Chief Minister.
Defending his party's grassroots support, Kabir highlighted that his son still managed to secure 54,000 votes despite severe obstacles. He argued that had law enforcement authorities not taken him into preventive detention on polling day, his son would have garnered 1,50,000 votes. Kabir also leveled direct accusations against the rival Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, claiming that the nominee went into a specific booth and cast 3 fraudulent votes.
Plans for Babri Masjid Construction in Murshidabad
Stepping beyond the immediate election outcome, Humayun Kabir addressed the construction of the proposed Babri Masjid in Murshidabad. He asserted that he required no validation from the Bharatiya Janata Party, pointing out that their politics had consistently revolved around temple issues. Kabir mentioned that when he laid the foundation stone for the mosque, opponents simultaneously laid a foundation for a temple, questioning the current status of that competing initiative.
Addressing the legal status of the religious structure, Kabir explained that a dedicated trust has already been created to manage the project, and the Government of India has been formally apprised of its existence. He noted that rulings from both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court affirmed their legal right to determine the name of the structure, confirming it will carry the Babri name. Kabir added that the construction work is scheduled for completion by December 6, 2028, and will feature a facility capable of accommodating 1,00,000 Muslims offering prayers together.
Reversal on Retirement and Lok Sabha Ambitions
Having signaled an exit from public life on Thursday after being detained during polling hours, Humayun Kabir made an unambiguous reversal on Friday. Laying out his revised electoral timetable, he announced that during the nationwide parliamentary polls scheduled for March and April 2029, he would step forward as a candidate from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency.
Kabir launched sharp criticisms against Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, alleging that the senior Congress figure maintains covert links with the BJP. He claimed that Chowdhury travels to Delhi on Fridays and Saturdays to meet with Nitin Gadkari. Kabir asserted that his central political mission is to defeat Chowdhury in the general election, adding that once this electoral objective is accomplished, he plans to leave India and settle in Dubai. Furthermore, Kabir confirmed his personal stance against the Chief Minister and Suvendu, declaring that he will no longer attend any future sittings of the state legislative assembly.
