Trinamool Congress MLA Arindam Guin labelled Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir a 'traitor' on Friday, accusing him of collaborating with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to split Muslim votes ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections.
“These people knew beforehand where the money was coming from and who was giving the money. Everyone knew the intent of Humayun Kabir. Their job is to collude with the BJP and divide Muslim votes. There is no bigger traitor than Humayun Kabir,” Guin told ANI.
Guin, contesting the two-phase West Bengal assembly elections on April 23 and April 29 from the Chapdani assembly constituency on a Trinamool Congress ticket, was also asked about the break-up of the alliance between Humayun Kabir’s AJUP and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
“He is no messiah (of Muslims), he could not get a proper deal (seat-sharing arrangement), so he left,” Guin said about Owaisi.
Humayun Kabir has faced controversy since announcing the formation of a Babri Masjid and conducting a foundation stone laying ceremony for its construction in Murshidabad. After raising this issue, he was suspended and subsequently expelled by the Trinamool Congress, later launching his regional party AJUP.
On the same day, AIMIM announced it was ending its alliance with Kabir’s party. This decision followed the release of a “sting video” on X by the Trinamool Congress, in which Kabir appeared to claim he had secured a deal worth “Rs 1,000 crore”. AIMIM expressed concerns about the “integrity of Muslims” in response.
Kabir has denied the allegations and claimed the video was AI-generated.
The AIMIM stated it “cannot associate with any statements where the integrity of Muslims is brought into question” and confirmed the immediate termination of its alliance with AJUP.
Additionally, AIMIM highlighted the ongoing socio-economic marginalisation of Muslims in West Bengal, describing them as “one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed” communities despite decades of governance by parties including the Trinamool Congress.
“Humayun Kabir’s revelations have shown how vulnerable Bengal’s Muslims are. That AIMIM cannot associate with any statements where integrity of Muslims is brought into question. As of today, AIMIM has withdrawn its alliance with Kabir’s party. Bengal’s Muslims are one of the poorest, neglected and oppressed communities. Despite decades of secular rule, nothing has been done for them. AIMIM’s policy in contesting elections in any state is so that the marginalised communities have an independent political voice. We will be contesting the Bengal elections INDEPENDENTLY and have will have no alliance with any party going forward,” AIMIM posted on X.
The AIMIM reiterated it will contest the upcoming West Bengal elections independently, without allying with any party.
The 294-member West Bengal assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting scheduled for May 4.