Full Breakdown
Humayun Kabir’s Post-Bypoll Fallout: Arrest, Allegations, and a Planned Move to Dubai
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 6 2026, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief and Nowda MLA Humayun Kabir was detained by police in Murshidabad’s Rejinagar constituency while voting in a by-election. He was released after about 12 hours. The bypoll, triggered after Kabir vacated the seat he had won in the April 2026 Assembly elections, saw BJP candidate Shankharavh Sarkar declared the likely winner on October 9 2026. Kabir alleged the police and administration “stole” the election and announced his intention to quit electoral politics and relocate to Dubai on a 10-year golden visa after completing a mosque project slated for December 6 2028.
Background & Context
Kabir, a former Congress and Trinamool Congress MLA, founded AJUP after being expelled from the TMC in December 2025. He won both Nowda and Rejinagar in the 2026 Assembly polls, prompting the bypoll when he retained Nowda and vacated Rejinagar. His son, Golam Nabi Azad, contested the Rejinagar seat for AJUP.
Timeline
- December 6 2025: Foundation stone laid for a mosque in Rejinagar, modelled on the Babri Masjid.
- September 9 2026: Golam Nabi Azad filed his nomination.
- October 6 2026: Kabir clashed with police after casting his vote; was detained.
- October 7 2026: Kabir hinted at retiring from politics.
- October 8 2026: Kabir reiterated allegations of electoral interference and predicted a BJP victory.
- October 9 2026: Election results to be declared.
- December 6 2028: Kabir plans to move to Dubai after mosque completion.
Data & Statistics
- Vote totals: BJP’s Shankharavh Sarkar – 48,101 votes; AJUP’s Golam Nabi Azad – 13,600 votes; margin 34,501 votes.
- Alternative margin: Some reports cite a 75,816-vote lead for the BJP; the final certified result is pending the October 9 declaration.
Official Statements & Responses
- Kabir said he would not attend the state Assembly while Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari remained in office, promising to seek forgiveness from the people of Nowda/Naoda.
- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari argued the BJP’s performance reflected growing support among minority voters and accused Kabir’s remarks of fueling communal polarization.
- The Trinamool Congress (Mamata Banerjee faction) labelled Kabir’s comments “communal” and suggested they served BJP interests.
Criticism & Opposition
Kunal Ghosh, a TMC MLA, remarked, “The time has come for Humayun Kabir to take the decision, if he wants to work for the advantage of BJP or to really oppose BJP from the core of his heart.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Vote margin: NDTV reported a BJP lead of 75,816 votes, while News18 reported a 34,501-vote margin. Both attribute the figures to their own counting updates; the final certified result is pending.
- Police allegations: Kabir claims police “hijacked” voting at many booths and issued special badges to RSS workers. No independent verification is available.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If Suvendu Adhikari remains the chief minister, I will not go to the assembly. I will seek forgiveness from the people of Naoda,” — Humayun Kabir
What’s Next
- The Election Commission will announce the official Rejinagar result on October 9 2026.
- Kabir plans a meeting with Naoda constituents after Durga Puja (October 15-21 2026) to apologize and decide whether to resign his assembly seat.
- Completion of the mosque and Kabir’s relocation to Dubai are scheduled for December 6 2028.