TMC MLA Humayun Kabir threatens to start new political outfit again, TMC mulls stern action

This is not the first time Kabir has issued such an ultimatum. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he had similarly threatened to float a party when cricketer Yousuf Pathan was fielded as the TMC candidate from Berhampore. He later withdrew his remarks.

A former Congress and BJP member, Kabir has had a chequered political journey and has often been at odds with the TMC leadership. Over the past few months, he has been publicly critical of the party’s district leadership in Murshidabad and has been show-caused multiple times for his remarks.

Despite his criticism, Kabir has maintained that he has no differences with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. “TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will come to power. The leader will be the next Chief Minister. But people are being insulted. My initiative is to stop that insult,” he said, in a comment seen as an attempt to disassociate his rebellion from the central leadership while building pressure on the local leadership.

Kabir has hinted that his proposed party will focus on constituencies with significant minority populations: Murshidabad, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, parts of Nadia and Dakshin Dinajpur. “There will not be just one Humayun Kabir, there will be many,” he said.

According to him, the new party would be officially launched on January 1, 2026, with plans to contest 50-52 seats across West Bengal.

Sources in the TMC said the latest threat has angered Mamata Banerjee. “This time, the party supremo is very upset. In her inner circle, she has said that stern action should be taken. If Kabir does not back down, the party may act against him even before August 15. Expulsion is being considered,” a senior TMC leader told The Indian Express.

While the party has not issued any official communication yet, TMC spokesperson Joyprakash Majumder dismissed Kabir’s deadline as posturing. “A party has rules. If you want to stay, follow them. Otherwise, the road is open,” he said.

The BJP weighed in, with state president Samik Bhattacharya claiming Kabir’s threat was a symptom of larger discontent. “The TMC’s farewell is confirmed. Their MLAs know it. There is growing public anger. Whether Kabir is really forming a new party or the TMC is behind it, we don’t know. But people will see through it,” he said.

CPI(M) central committee member Sujan Chakraborty took a swipe at Kabir’s shifting allegiances. “He has been in Congress, then BJP, then TMC, back to Congress, and again TMC. Now, he’s talking about a new party? This is not politics, it’s opportunistic deal-making. He says he is with Mamata Banerjee and also Abhishek Banerjee. So, if he is with both, then who is he rebelling against? This is just bargaining before ticket distribution,” Chakraborty said.

Kabir’s latest move has raised concern within the TMC about potential fissures in its minority vote base, especially in Murshidabad, Malda, and parts of north Bengal. “The worry is that Kabir’s posturing, even if it doesn’t result in a new party, could damage morale and confuse the minority electorate that has traditionally supported the TMC,” a party leader said.