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On the ground, there is visible support among a segment of residents for Humayun Kabir’s Babri mosque project.
In political circles, there is speculation that Kabir’s strained relationship with sections of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership, along with several controversial public statements that reportedly diverged from the party line, may have weakened his prospects of renomination. (Image: PTI)
As West Bengal heads into another election cycle, fresh political questions have emerged around the sudden formation of a new outfit led by MLA Humayun Kabir. Why has he chosen this moment to float the Janata Unnayan Party? Is the move aimed at consolidating minority sentiment, or at reshaping local political equations?
In political circles, there is speculation that Kabir’s strained relationship with sections of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leadership, along with several controversial public statements that reportedly diverged from the party line, may have weakened his prospects of renomination. While there is no official confirmation on ticket distribution, these discussions have intensified ahead of the polls.
Kabir has foregrounded the issue of constructing a Babri mosque, positioning it as a symbolic and political marker. Observers say this move appears designed to signal that he stands firmly with minority concerns. News18 visited Beldanga and Rejinagar to assess why a section of the population has rallied behind Kabir under the banner of the Janata Unnayan Party.
Both Beldanga and Rejinagar have a minority population exceeding 60 per cent, according to Census data. On the ground, there is visible support among a segment of residents for the mosque project. Contributions, both financial and voluntary, have come from members of the community who say the issue carries emotional and symbolic weight.
However, the larger political question is whether this support reflects deeper dissatisfaction with the ruling TMC government. Electoral outcomes in recent years do not indicate a large-scale shift in minority voting patterns. Yet, interactions with residents suggest that a section of the minority community in these pockets is expressing discontent.
One of the recurring concerns relates to the Waqf (Amendment) Act and its implementation. Rafikul, a resident of Kashipur, told News18: “We thought they were strongly opposed to the Waqf changes and would be able to stop it. Initially, we believed it would not be implemented here. But now we see that it is being carried out. We did not react at first, but now we are concerned.”
Officially, the Minority Affairs Department has directed District Magistrates to upload Waqf property data in compliance with central regulations. For some residents, this development has become a point of grievance.
Another issue raised by locals is the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A tea seller in the area said: “They said they would stop the SIR process, but it has continued. Many of our people have been called for hearings. It feels like harassment. In this situation, we are not receiving support.”
Apart from policy issues, dissatisfaction with local leadership has also surfaced. Hamid, a local resident, told News18: “We do not need unemployment stipends. We need jobs. There is no job creation here. That is why we are trying to see whether Humayun Kabir can offer any alternative.”
At the Babri mosque’s stone-laying ceremony in Beldanga, a significant crowd gathered on the first day. However, attendance reportedly declined sharply at a subsequent rally on 11 February, when construction work formally began. Political observers offer different interpretations — some suggest that voters in Bengal have historically resisted overt religious mobilisation, while others believe the ruling party may be recalibrating its outreach efforts.
Whether Humayun Kabir’s new political platform will meaningfully split the minority vote in these constituencies remains uncertain. Bengal’s electoral history suggests that identity-based politics alone has not always determined outcomes. Ultimately, the ballot box will determine whether the emerging discontent translates into a measurable political shift.
February 13, 2026, 13:27 IST
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