Suspended Trinamool Congress legislator Humayun Kabir has announced he is in discussions with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi to form a coalition for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. This move comes a day after Kabir laid the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid-like mosque in Murshidabad and signals a direct challenge to both the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP.
A Strategic Alliance Against Major Parties
Speaking to the media on Sunday, December 7, 2025, Humayun Kabir disclosed details of his conversation with the Hyderabad MP. "I spoke to Owaisi last night, and we had a discussion and decided that we will stand by the poor Muslims in this state," Kabir stated. He framed the potential partnership as a union of regional forces, quoting public sentiment: "The public is saying that Bengal Owaisi is me, and he is Hyderabad Owaisi; both brothers will unite and fight against the TMC and the BJP." Kabir added that he has received an invitation to Hyderabad and plans to visit soon.
His political ambition is clear: to emerge as a decisive power broker. Kabir plans to contest in 135 seats, with Muslim candidates in 90 of those constituencies. "This time, we anticipate a hung election, and I aim to be the kingmaker. Our sole objective is to ensure that neither the BJP nor the TMC comes to power," he asserted, confirming he will not resign as the MLA from Bharatpur on public demand.
The Mosque Project and Political Symbolism
The political maneuvering is closely tied to a significant religious project. On Saturday, Kabir laid the foundation stone for a large mosque complex in Beldanga, Murshidabad district. He compared the initiative to the BJP's outreach, saying, "BJP always plays the Hindutva card. The BJP is doing a Gita recitation to unite the Hindu community."
The proposed mosque complex is envisioned on a grand scale. Kabir revealed that the masjid will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore and will include additional facilities like a helipad, a university, and a hospital. He announced a massive Koran recitation event with one lakh people in Murshidabad in February 2026 and aims to start construction within the next two months after completing pending paperwork.
A History of Defiance and Expulsion
Kabir's latest actions follow a year of repeated criticism directed at his own party, the Trinamool Congress. These public statements had previously drawn warnings from both Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The tension culminated on Thursday, December 4, when the TMC's disciplinary committee officially suspended Kabir from the party.
This is not Kabir's first major political rebellion. His career has seen multiple party switches:
- He was a Congress MLA from Rejinagar from 2011 to 2012 before resigning.
- In 2015, the TMC expelled him for six years for alleged anti-party activities.
- He contested the 2016 Assembly polls as an independent but lost.
- In 2018, he joined the BJP and contested the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat in 2019, losing to the TMC.
- After his expulsion period ended, he rejoined the TMC and won the Bharatpur Assembly seat.
Kabir has confirmed his intention to formally quit the TMC and announce his own political party on December 22, 2025. His repeated targeting of fellow TMC leaders, including Berhampore MP Yusuf Pathan, and his defiance of party directives ultimately led to the suspension. The TMC had issued him several show-cause notices for statements that embarrassed the party leadership before taking the final step.
This development sets the stage for a complex multi-cornered contest in West Bengal, with Kabir and a potential AIMIM alliance aiming to carve out a significant vote share, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, challenging the political calculus of the two main contenders.
