Humayun Kabir to contest from Rejinagar & Naoda, unveils list of more candidates

Amid an increasingly crowded electoral field in West Bengal, expelled Trinamul Congress leader Humayun Kabir on Wednesday announced his second list of candidates for his newly floated Janata Unnayan Party(JUP).

He also confirmed that he will contest from two Assembly constituencies Rejinagar and Naoda in Murshidabad district. Addressing a Press conference, Kabir said his party would field candidates in 182 seats across the state, with the remaining list to be unveiled on 22 March. He has already declared candidates in phases, including an earlier list of nine nominees and a subsequent announcement covering four constituencies in Malda district. In the latest development, Kabir confirmed that he will contest from Rejinagar and Naoda Assembly constituencies. This marks a shift from his earlier indication of contesting from Beldanga alongside Rejinagar.

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Notably, he has opted out of contesting from Bharatpur, the seat he currently represents, fuelling political speculation. Political observers have raised questions over his decision to contest from two seats within Murshidabad rather than his traditional stronghold. The move has drawn comparisons with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, the latter widely seen as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

However, unlike Adhikari’s high-profile electoral strategy, Kabir’s choice has prompted questions about whether it reflects a defensive approach amid uncertainty over his electoral prospects. Kabir, who was expelled from the Trinamul Congress few days ago, had earlier announced his intent to consolidate anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces. He has been attempting to forge an understanding with Left parties and the Indian Secular Front (ISF), even extending deadlines for alliance discussions ~ from 10 March to 15 March. However, talks have yet to yield a concrete outcome.

Acknowledging the limitations of a solo fight, Kabir indicated that his party is open to coordination with like-minded forces. “We are announcing candidates for Malda and Murshidabad now. The full list will be released on 22 March,” he said, adding that the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) may contest in a few seats. With multiple parties already in the fray, Kabir’s evolving strategy and constituency choices are expected to add another layer of complexity to the electoral contest in key districts of north Bengal.