TMC Suspends Humayun Kabir After Babri Masjid-Style Mosque Announcement
The political climate in West Bengal heated up on Thursday after the Trinamool Congress suspended MLA Humayun Kabir for openly defying party instructions. He had declared that he would move ahead with a December 6 shilanyas for a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad. The move came despite repeated concerns from Raj Bhawan over possible law-and-order issues.
Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim announced the suspension and said the party had warned Kabir earlier. However, the MLA continued with his plan. Hakim asked, “Why suddenly Babri Masjid?” He added that the party could not allow an action that might trigger unrest during a sensitive period.
Moreover, party insiders revealed that Kabir had been in open conflict with the TMC leadership for months. His announcement, therefore, acted as the final trigger for disciplinary action.
Kabir, however, dismissed the suspension and insisted that his programme would go forward “under constitutional rights”. He also claimed that the event could draw “lakhs” of attendees. Additionally, he said he planned to deploy around 2,000 volunteers to maintain peace and ensure “no inconvenience to any community”.
Kabir Rejects Governor’s Warning and Threatens Road Blockade
Kabir sharply criticised Governor CV Ananda Bose, rejecting his warnings to the state government as “baseless” and “politically coloured”. He argued that the governor’s comments were “outside constitutional discipline”. Kabir stressed that the governor was “not an elected person” and added that “law and order is the state government’s responsibility”.
However, the Murshidabad administration has not granted formal permission for the event. Officials stated that a detailed law-and-order review was underway. They also noted that the date carried symbolic weight and required deeper assessment.
Kabir responded with a warning. He said, “If the administration tries to stop us, the highway from Rejinagar to Beharampur will be blocked.” He added that no government should “play with fire” by stopping a peaceful religious event.
Furthermore, the tension follows a week of unrest in Beldanga, where posters promoting the “Babri Masjid shilanyas” were first put up and later torn down. Police sources admitted that the Babri reference increased the risk of escalation, especially during election season.
According to one district TMC functionary, “This is a moment where symbolism can mobilise faster than action.” The remark reflected growing worry inside the ruling party as the situation developed.
Political Reactions: BJP and CPI(M) Target TMC Amid Rising Tension
The Bharatiya Janata Party wasted no time reacting. BJP leader Keya Ghosh accused the TMC of allowing the situation to grow unchecked. She said the ruling party wanted communal tension for electoral gain. According to her, the TMC had allowed Kabir to escalate his plans to create a polarising moment ahead of elections.
Additionally, the CPI(M) mocked the churn in Bengal politics. Party leader Saikat Giri remarked that one former TMC leader now mobilised Hindu voters for BJP, while Kabir — once in BJP — was now trying to rally Muslim sentiment from within TMC. The comment highlighted ideological fluidity and shifting loyalties in Bengal’s volatile political space.
Political analysts said the real contest on December 6 might not be about turnout. Instead, it could be about narrative building. They noted that Kabir’s defiance had turned an unapproved foundation-stone ceremony into a charged political symbol. Moreover, they stressed that the state administration’s response could shape the next phase of campaigning in Murshidabad.
Experts also warned that the Babri Masjid reference could draw sharp reactions from multiple sides. Therefore, they urged the administration to act with caution and transparency.