Humayun Kabir Drops Influencer Candidate, Triggers Religion Row in Bengal
Social media influencer alleges religious bias after being removed as Ballygunge nominee by Janata Unnayan Party chief
- Humayun Kabir removes influencer Nisha Chatterjee as JUP candidate
- Ballygunge seat was earlier allotted to her by Kabir
- Chatterjee alleges she was dropped due to her religion
- Trinamool and BJP dismiss Kabir’s new political outfit
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 24th Dec: Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, who recently launched his own political outfit Janata Unnayan Party (JUP), has dropped social media influencer Nisha Chatterjee from the party’s provisional list of candidates, triggering a fresh controversy in West Bengal’s political circles.
Kabir had initially named Chatterjee as the JUP candidate from Ballygunge, a seat long dominated by the Trinamool Congress and currently represented by singer-politician Babul Supriyo. However, within hours of the announcement, Kabir reversed his decision.
“I have seen some of Nisha’s photos and reels on social media. I feel she should not be our candidate. It will send a wrong message to the people. I have every right to take this decision,” Kabir said, adding that a new woman candidate would be announced soon.
Chatterjee, however, claimed that she was dropped because of her religion. “Suddenly there are discussions about my videos. Humayun ‘kaku’ asked me to be a candidate. Now he is saying different things and casting aspersions on me. I have been dropped because I am a Hindu,” she alleged, questioning the party’s secular credentials.
Kabir was suspended by the Trinamool Congress earlier this month following differences with party leadership, including his controversial plan to build a replica of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad. After his suspension, he announced the formation of JUP, declaring that his party would contest 135 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections and work for the “aam aadmi,” including Muslims.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Jayprakash Majumdar dismissed Kabir’s new party, calling it a “communal provocation.” The BJP, meanwhile, claimed Kabir is still working in tandem with the Trinamool to split opposition votes.
The latest episode has added another layer of controversy to Kabir’s fledgling political venture, even as he positions himself as a challenger to both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP in Bengal.
