In a significant blow to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of next year’s state assembly elections, Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir has declared his intention to form a new political party, set to launch on January 1, 2026. This audacious move stems from deep-seated dissatisfaction with the Murshidabad district leadership, whom Kabir accuses of defying Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s directives.
A Familiar Narrative: Kabir’s History of Defiance
Kabir’s rebellion is not entirely new. The firebrand MLA has a history of publicly voicing dissent and has been show-caused by the TMC on multiple occasions for making anti-party remarks. Despite repeated warnings from the party high command, Kabir has remained defiant, culminating in his latest move to launch a separate political entity. This consistent pattern of rebellion highlights a recurring internal struggle for the TMC.
A New Political Force Emerges: Launching January 1, 2026
While his primary target appears to be the Murshidabad district unit, Kabir clarified that his new party’s ambitions extend significantly beyond a single district. He plans to field candidates in 50-52 constituencies across West Bengal, specifically targeting the districts of Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, South Dinajpur, and parts of Nadia. The official launch date of January 1, 2026, marks a clear timeline for this new political venture.
Oxen vs. Goats: A Scathing Attack on District Leadership
In a recent television interview, Kabir did not mince words, delivering a thinly veiled yet sharp attack on the district leadership: “I want to prove through forming a party that farming is done with oxen, not goats.” He further remarked, without naming individuals, “It’s time to show whether people are with the oxen or the goats.” This colorful metaphor underscores his belief that the local leadership is ineffective and detrimental to the party’s true objectives. He specifically named party district functionaries Apurba Sarkar and Khalilur Rahman, alleging they disregard the Chief Minister’s directives, citing an unformed 10-member committee as an example.
Navigating Loyalty
Mamata Not the Target, Local Leaders Are Significantly, Kabir maintains that his dissent is not directed at the TMC’s top leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
He explicitly stated, “TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee will come to power. The leader will be the next Chief Minister. But people are being insulted by making goats thresh the paddy. My initiative is to stop that insult.” This nuanced position suggests an attempt to rally support by appealing to those who feel disenfranchised by the local party machinery, while still acknowledging Mamata Banerjee’s authority and aiming to “warn” the party leadership.
Potential Impact on TMC’s Crucial Minority Vote Bank
The emergence of Kabir’s new party raises significant questions in political circles about its potential impact on the TMC’s crucial minority vote bank. West Bengal has a substantial Muslim population, constituting approximately 27.01% of the total state population as per the 2011 census. Districts like Murshidabad, Malda, North Dinajpur, and Nadia, where Kabir plans to field candidates, have significant Muslim populations:
Murshidabad: Approximately 66.27% Muslim population (2011 Census).
Malda: Approximately 51.27% Muslim population (2011 Census).
North Dinajpur (Uttar Dinajpur): Approximately 49.92% Muslim population (2011 Census).
Nadia: Approximately 26.76% Muslim population (2011 Census).
South Dinajpur (Dakshin Dinajpur): Approximately 24.63% Muslim population (2011 Census).
The TMC has historically enjoyed strong support from the Muslim community, with post-poll surveys from the 2021 Assembly elections indicating that the vote of Muslims for the TMC went up from 51% to 75%. Kabir, being an influential figure in a minority-dominated constituency like Bharatpur, could potentially fragment this critical vote base, especially in the constituencies he targets.
The Road Ahead: What This Means for West Bengal Politics
With the state assembly elections expected in March-April 2026, Humayun Kabir’s audacious move is set to create ripples in West Bengal politics. His decision to launch a new party, after a history of internal dissent and despite warnings from the TMC leadership, underscores the growing challenges facing the ruling party. It remains to be seen how the TMC leadership will respond to this latest challenge from one of its own and what impact this new political entity will have on the electoral landscape of West Bengal.