Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir has stirred the political pot once again, claiming that CPI(M) State Secretary Md. Salim remains “unstoppable” despite facing intense internal heat. Speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport on Monday, Kabir asserted that Salim has maintained communication and offered reassurances of solidarity, even as the Left Front distances itself from their controversial interactions.
Secret Meetings Beyond the Headlines
Addressing the backlash surrounding a late-night meeting at a New Town hotel in late January, Kabir revealed that his association with the CPI(M) leader is more extensive than publicly known. “Left Front leaders criticizing the meeting are unaware that Md. Salim didn’t just meet me at one five-star hotel; we have met at several,” Kabir claimed.
He further disclosed that despite the waves of criticism following the leaked meeting, the two have remained in contact via telephone. According to the MLA, Salim’s message was clear: a commitment to defeating the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Alliance Uncertainties and the “Third Factor”
While the Left camp has officially labeled the New Town meeting as “strictly personal” to mitigate internal dissent, Kabir appears unfazed by the lack of a formal alliance. He noted that while Salim’s support is welcome, his newly formed “Janata Unnayan Party” is prepared to stand on its own feet.
“If he stays, he is welcome. If not, it doesn’t affect me. My party has gained the strength to contest 182 seats independently,” Kabir stated confidently. His recent meeting with AIMIM State President Imran Solanki in Murshidabad further signals his intent to consolidate a third front.
A Predicted Hung Assembly
Kabir’s political maneuvers are rooted in his conviction that the upcoming elections will not yield a clear mandate. Predicting a fractured political landscape, the MLA remarked, “No single party will achieve a majority this time. We are heading toward a hung assembly.”
As Kabir continues to bridge gaps between diverse political entities, the focus remains on whether Md. Salim’s purported “reassurances” will translate into a strategic partnership or lead to further isolation within the Left Front.