An intriguing political phenomenon has emerged in West Bengal ahead of next year's assembly elections with the rise of a new party - the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), founded by Humayun Kabir. Known previously for laying the foundation of the new Babri Mosque on the anniversary of the Babri demolition, Kabir was once a part of the Trinamool Congress party. His latest political endeavors have already sparked significant debates.
Initially, Nisha Chatterjee was announced as the JUP candidate for the Ballygunge assembly seat. However, just 24 hours later, the party made a surprising shift, selecting retired police officer Abu Hasan to contest from this strategic constituency.
Discussing the decision with the media, JUP's founder and leader Humayun Kabir emphasized the importance of the public image of candidates, stating that Nisha Chatterjee's presence on social media did not align with the party's envisioned image. The party aims to progress with a clear identity, where the public persona of candidates plays a crucial role.
Kabir candidly spoke about his connection with Abu Hasan, clarifying that while Abu is not his uncle, he is a cousin of his mother. Kabir addressed some concerns raised by Abu's children and reiterated the party's commitment to ensuring Abu's victory.
Reflecting on his unexpected foray into politics, Abu Hasan revealed that he never harbored intentions to join the political arena, having dedicated his life to police service. However, he was persuaded by Kabir to venture into this new realm.
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Abu Hasan, originally from Rajnagar, has been residing in Kolkata's Beck Bagan area for the past several years.
It is noteworthy that Humayun Kabir was expelled from the ruling Trinamool Congress party on the fourth of this month. Following this, he announced the formation of a new political party. As of Monday, Kabir has successfully launched his new party and is actively announcing candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections.
The party has already announced candidates for 10 seats, and Humayun Kabir himself is contesting from two of them. The party has ambitious plans to contest in 100 seats in the 2026 assembly elections.
