The Trinamool Congress leadership has opted not to seek the cancellation of suspended party legislator Humayun Kabir’s membership from the West Bengal House, despite Kabir launching his new political outfit named the Janata Unnayan Party. A senior member of the West Bengal Cabinet explained that the decision was influenced by two key factors. Firstly, with just over six months remaining until the state’s Assembly elections, followed by the formation of a new state Cabinet, the leadership chose to allow Kabir to retain his position during this transitional period to avoid triggering a by-election for Bharatpur constituency.
Additionally, the move to cancel Kabir’s membership was deemed likely to convey a message of significance to the public, a perception the Trinamool Congress leadership wished to avoid. Consequently, the party has decided to disregard Kabir at present and refrain from engaging with his comments or criticisms. Initially, Kabir had announced his intention to resign as Bharatpur’s legislator before unveiling his new party on December 22. However, he later reversed this decision, opting to serve as an independent legislator for Bharatpur until the upcoming state Assembly polls. Kabir also expressed his readiness to contest as the Janata Unnayan Party candidate in two Assembly constituencies within his native Murshidabad district, indicating a willingness to form alliances with various “anti-BJP” and “anti-Trinamool Congress” factions in the state.
