Humayun Kabir quits campaigning ahead of Rejinagar bypoll, alleges poll rigging

Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) leader Humayun Kabir has announced that he will not campaign in the upcoming Rejinagar bypoll, alleging that police are harassing and arresting his party workers and trying to loot the election. Kabir’s son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting the by-election after Kabir vacated the constituency.

Explaining his decision to step away from ground-level campaigning, Kabir said his priority was to protect party workers from arrests and what he described as police harassment.

“We have stopped campaigning. We will not campaign. Our workers are being threatened and harassed everywhere. The police are not neutral and are working at the behest of the BJP government,” Kabir said.

Kabir also warned the BJP and the state administration against attempting to “loot” the election on polling day, saying he would be on the ground to prevent it.

“If they try to loot it on October 6, I will be there on the ground to prevent the loot. If that leads to bloodshed, let that be,” he said.KABIR ALLEGES BJP-RITABRATA FACTION NEXUS

Kabir also accused the ruling BJP and the Democratic Trinamool Congress, a faction led by Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee, of working together in the Rejinagar election.

“There was a meeting between Ataur, a local leader of the Democratic Trinamool Congress, and their candidate, Sheikh Safiuddin Zaman. They have taken money, spotted our active workers and given a list of their names to the police. Now, the police are working at the behest of their nexus and arresting our workers,” Kabir alleged.

Despite stepping away from physical campaigning, Kabir said he would continue promoting his party’s ‘Table’ election symbol through his Facebook account and use the platform to reach voters in Rejinagar.

Asked whether his decision could leave party workers and voters confused about whom to vote for, Kabir said he could not campaign when, according to him, people were being threatened.

“Wherever we are going to talk to people, the police are reaching there and indulging in sycophancy,” he said.

Kabir’s decision comes days after a dramatic development in the Rejinagar contest. Rabiul Alam Choudhary, the Team Mamata Banerjee (Mamata All India Trinamool Congress) candidate, withdrew his nomination but returned to the race three hours later.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 21, 2026 09:47 IST