Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir Terminates Alliance Talks with CPM and ISF
In a significant political development in Kolkata, Bharatpur MLA Humayun Kabir declared on Monday that he has ended alliance negotiations with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Indian Secular Front. The former Trinamool Congress leader asserted that he will spearhead a new coalition, which includes the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and six to seven smaller political entities, aiming to contest 182 assembly seats in the upcoming West Bengal elections.
Breakdown of Negotiations and Accusations
Addressing the media, Kabir expressed frustration over the conduct of key figures from the Left Front and ISF. "The behavior of Left Front chairperson Biman Bose, CPM state secretary Md Salim, and ISF chief Nawsad Siddique has made an alliance impossible," he stated. He accused them of demanding an excessive number of candidates based on vote share, which he believes would ultimately benefit the Trinamool Congress. "What can I do? Allocating more seats to them would only aid TMC in the long term. They lack the capability to effectively challenge the ruling party," Kabir emphasized.
Formation of a New Political Alliance
Kabir detailed his efforts over the past two months to forge a united front, including meetings with CPM leaders and discussions with ISF representatives. He criticized ISF for what he termed as "over-smart" tactics, suggesting they should limit their contests to one or two districts where they have a established base. Asserting his own political rights, Kabir revealed that his party is in advanced talks with smaller parties, with a meeting held on Sunday that he described as "99% complete." A follow-up meeting is scheduled for February 21. The proposed coalition includes parties such as the Social Democratic Party of India and the Azad Samaj Party.
Strategic Electoral Moves and Political Reactions
In a bold move, Kabir announced plans to field candidates against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhowanipore and Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, signaling a direct challenge to prominent TMC figures. Responding to Kabir's announcements, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh issued a sarcastic remark, "Bengal assembly polls or the Lok Sabha elections are too insignificant for a person of his stature. We recommend he contest for the next United Nations secretary-general position instead." This exchange highlights the escalating political tensions as West Bengal prepares for a highly competitive electoral season.
