The political atmosphere in West Bengal intensified this Tuesday as Nisha Chatterjee, a recently nominated candidate for the 2026 Assembly elections, launched a fierce verbal offensive against Humayun Kabir and his newly established Janata Unnayan Party. Chatterjee alleged that her removal from the candidate list was motivated by her Hindu identity rather than professional or ethical concerns.
Sudden Reversal in Ballygunge Nomination
The controversy surfaced less than a day after Humayun Kabir, the MLA from Bharatpur, officially introduced his new political platform. During the launch, he had named Chatterjee as the party’s representative for the Ballygunge constituency. However, the leadership performed a swift U-turn, retracting her nomination almost immediately and sparking a heated public dispute.
Allegations of Religious Discrimination
Chatterjee has flatly rejected the party’s official narrative, claiming that the “secular” image the party project is merely a front. She argued that her Hindu background was the actual reason for her dismissal.
“If there were genuine concerns about my history, why wasn’t a proper vetting process conducted before a public announcement was made?” Chatterjee questioned.
She further highlighted the irony of her situation, noting that she had previously been vocal in supporting the party’s views on sensitive issues like the Babri Masjid, only to be marginalized shortly after.
Dispute Over Social Media Content
The primary reason cited by Humayun Kabir for the ouster was the emergence of “certain videos” online that the party deemed inappropriate. Chatterjee has dismissed these allegations as a campaign of character assassination and social harassment. She challenged the party leadership to provide any evidence of “vulgar” or offensive content, maintaining that her reputation is being unfairly tarnished.
Humayun Kabir’s Response
Speaking to the press regarding the decision, Humayun Kabir stated that the move was a collective party decision. He explained that after several social media posts were brought to the leadership’s attention, the party felt it necessary to revoke her candidacy. Interestingly, Kabir noted that while the party had acted on these posts, he personally had not yet viewed the specific content in question.
A Critique of Leadership and Stability
Beyond the personal allegations, Chatterjee slammed Kabir’s administrative style, describing it as reckless and inconsistent. She criticized the practice of appointing and removing candidates on a whim, arguing that such volatility proves a lack of organizational stability.
Framing herself as one of the party’s first “soldiers,” she questioned how a leader aiming to build a significant political force could abandon his recruits within 24 hours, leaving them to face public scrutiny without support.