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First expelled from TMC 10 years ago, Humayun Kabir’s second stint was no less controversial

Last November, Kabir was issued a showcause notice for demanding to make TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee deputy chief minister

Humayun KabirOn March 13 this year, he was again served a show cause notice by TMC’s disciplinary committee in the Assembly for allegedly threatening Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

It was his resolve to build a Babri Masjid-like mosque in Murshidabad that led to the suspension of 62-year-old TMC MLA Humayun Kabir. But this is not the first time that he has faced disciplinary action in the party.

Kanir, who began his political career with the Congress and rose to become an MLA, joined the TMC, a year after the latter came to power in West Bengal, ending the Left Front’s 34-year rule. In TMC, he was made a minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet. But within three years, he was expelled from the party for six years for “anti-party activities”. In between, he joined the BJP in 2018, contested the Lok Sabha elections from Murshidabad, and then returned to the TMC in 2021 to become an MLA again, from Bharatpur.

His second stint in the TMC has been quite controversial, earning him the party’s reprimand on more than one occasion.

In May 2024, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, Kabir made a controversial remark, saying that Muslims constituted 70 per cent of the population, while Hindus only 30 per cent in Murshidabad, and threatened to throw BJP supporters in the Bhagirathi river.

In November 2024, Kabir was issued a showcause notice for demanding that TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee be made deputy chief minister and home minister, the portfolio held by Chief Minister and Abishek’s aunt, Mamata Banerjee. He later had to apologise.

On March 13 this year, he was again served a show cause notice by TMC’s disciplinary committee in the Assembly for allegedly threatening Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari.

According to TMC sources, he has political clout in Rejinagar and Bharatpur Assembly constituencies in Murshidabad district. “In the last Lok Sabha election (2024), he mobilised minority votes of Berhampore constituency that helped our candidate and cricketer Yousuf Pathan to defeat veteran Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Having said that, it is also true that he lacked organisational hold outside Bharatpur and Rejinagar. So, his exit from the party would not affect TMC, except for one or two seats in Murshidabad,” said a senior TMC leader.

Ravik Bhattacharya is a highly experienced and award-winning journalist currently serving as the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, Ravik possesses deep expertise across a wide range of critical subjects and geographical areas. Experience & Authority Current Role: Chief of Bureau, The Indian Express, Kolkata. Expertise: Extensive reporting across West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, and the Andaman Nicobar Islands. Ravik specializes in politics, crime, major incidents and issues, and investigative stories, demonstrating a robust command of complex and sensitive subjects. Experience: His long and distinguished career includes key reporting roles at several prestigious publications, including The Asian Age, The Statesman, The Telegraph, and The Hindustan Times. Ravik's current role marks his second stint with The Indian Express, having previously served as a Principal Correspondent in the Kolkata bureau from 2005 to 2010. Major Award: Ravik's authority and quality of work are substantiated by his winning of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for Political Reporting. Education: His strong academic foundation includes a Bachelor's degree with English Honours from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University, and a PG Diploma in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik Bhattacharya's extensive tenure, specialized beat coverage, and notable award confirm his status as a trusted and authoritative voice in Indian journalism, particularly for stories emanating from Eastern India. ... Read More

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience  Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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