Kolkata’s already charged political atmosphere ahead of the next West Bengal Assembly elections has taken a sharper turn following a controversial ‘Babri Masjid’ proposal floated by now-suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir in Murshidabad district.
The development adds a new layer to what is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in the state, where the BJP is determined to break Trinamool Congress’ stronghold, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is gearing up to defend her turf amid rising political polarisation.
Kabir, 62, the MLA from Bharatpur, has announced plans to launch his own political party after his suspension from the TMC. A former BJP leader before joining the Trinamool, Kabir is now attempting to forge alliances with parties such as Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and the Indian Secular Front (ISF). The move is widely seen as an attempt to carve out a share of Bengal’s nearly 30 per cent Muslim electorate.
To blunt Kabir’s impact, the Trinamool Congress is expected to highlight his past association with the BJP, arguing that his actions align with a broader strategy to fragment minority votes. The TMC has repeatedly accused the BJP of deploying outfits like AIMIM in states such as Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to split Muslim support and indirectly strengthen the saffron party’s prospects.
SIR, Infiltrator Narrative And Rising Tensions
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an issue already fuelling political tension across the state. The BJP has been aggressively using the SIR exercise to highlight alleged “infiltration”, and Kabir’s mosque-related plan has provided further ammunition to sharpen its campaign against the TMC.
Mamata Banerjee, in recent rallies, has urged voters to support only the Trinamool Congress, warning that votes for Independents or smaller parties could indirectly help the BJP gain power. She has also been touring Muslim- and SC/ST-dominated areas, seeking to ensure voters are not excluded from electoral rolls during the revision process.
Return Of The Bengali Identity Narrative
One of the TMC’s key counter-strategies is expected to be a renewed focus on Bengali identity, a political plank that worked effectively for the party during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly polls.
The party has recently highlighted an incident in Kolkata where a man was allegedly assaulted for selling chicken patties near a Bhagavad Gita recital, using it to claim that the BJP is attempting to impose vegetarianism and undermine Bengal’s pluralistic culture. The TMC has contrasted this with Bengal’s deep-rooted culinary traditions, particularly the cultural significance of fish, which symbolises prosperity and is a staple in Bengali weddings.
Populism, Welfare Push And Centre-State Tensions
Inspired by what it sees as the impact of populist measures in the JD(U)-BJP’s recent Bihar victory, the TMC is also expected to announce fresh welfare initiatives. These may include an enhancement of the ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’ scheme for women beneficiaries.
A scaled-down Bengal Global Business Summit is also planned next year, aimed at showcasing the government’s dual focus on development and welfare. Simultaneously, the TMC has intensified its attacks on the BJP-led Centre, accusing it of withholding Bengal’s rightful share of funds.
TMC’s Internal Assessment Of Kabir
Sources within the Trinamool Congress believe Humayun Kabir’s influence will be limited to pockets of Murshidabad and unlikely to pose a statewide challenge. Party insiders also feel the Indian Secular Front may not be enthusiastic about supporting another Muslim-centric political outfit, having allied with the Left and Congress in the past.
The party further believes that anger among minority communities over the SIR process could lead to a consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the TMC. An early start to district-level campaigns is also seen as an advantage, with the BJP yet to roll out a comparable grassroots drive.
However, the BJP remains confident that anti-incumbency, allegations of corruption, and public dissatisfaction with Mamata Banerjee’s rule will translate into what it describes as a “silent shift” in voter sentiment when polls are held.