Kabir Proposes Alliance with AIMIM Following Mosque Foundation Laying

Humayun Kabir announced his willingness to form an alliance with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for the upcoming Bengal assembly elections in 2026. This statement came shortly after he laid the foundation for a mosque resembling the Babri Masjid in Rejinagar, located in Murshidabad, on December 16, 2023. Kabir communicated his intentions during a media interaction, stating he is currently in contact with AIMIM’s Akbaruddin Owaisi’s personal assistant. While AIMIM has expressed an interest in having him join their party, Kabir clarified he prefers an alliance instead.

His remarks arrive just a day after a significant event, reflecting his strategic political positioning. Kabir plans to officially announce his own political party on December 22, 2023. Previously, he had indicated a decision to resign as a Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) on December 17. However, he reversed this position, emphasizing his commitment to the constituents of Bharatpur, stating, “People of Bharatpur have elected me as their MLA and they would be in trouble if I were to resign now. So, I have decided to continue.”

Kabir’s political journey has been tumultuous. He began his career with the Youth Congress in the early 1990s and won the Rejinagar seat as a Congress candidate in 2011. He later shifted to TMC, where he was appointed to a cabinet position but was expelled for six years. After running as an Independent in the 2016 Assembly elections and losing, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2018. His attempt to secure the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat in 2019 also ended in defeat. Upon the expiration of his expulsion from TMC, he returned to the party in time for the 2021 elections, winning from Bharatpur.

Kabir’s plans for alliances have stirred controversy. He indicated that he is open to collaboration with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), suggesting that they are prepared to join forces for the election battle across 135 seats. Notably, he also mentioned leaving ten seats available for the Congress, acknowledging the influence of Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury in Murshidabad.

However, these claims faced immediate pushback. Naushad Siddique, an MLA from ISF, stated that he had not engaged in any discussions with Kabir regarding an alliance, insisting there was “no question of an alliance.” He further noted that Kabir had previously made derogatory remarks about Hindus and should retract those statements before any dialogue could occur. Similarly, CPM state secretary Md Salim denied any negotiations on seat-sharing, while Chowdhury urged Murshidabad residents to reject any attempts to create divisions along religious lines.

The TMC has also criticized Kabir’s current political maneuvering. Spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated, “I am a Hindu, but my conscience did not allow the Babri Masjid desecration in 1992. Where was his conscience when he joined the BJP?” Ghosh accused Kabir of leveraging religious polarization for political gains, pointing out his history of fluctuating party affiliations and electoral losses.

As the political landscape in West Bengal continues to evolve, Kabir’s strategic alliances and proposals will likely play a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the 2026 assembly elections.